Holidays and absences [3]

{{ That sounds like it should accompany someone stripping all their clothes off...then slipping on a banana skin..in black and white!  }}

That's what makes New Orleans music so much fun - it's evocative of times gone by, and the inhabitants are intent on holding on to that feeling. Don't be expecting any hip hop down there. You won't even hear the Beatles; not playing on a passing radio, not in a mall elevator. They take pride in their traditions.

They'll celebrate the giants of popular music: the whole city broke into parades and tributes when David Bowie died. But they'll keep doing what they've always done with reverence for what the city gave birth to. It's culturally encapsulated like the Running of the Bulls in Spain, and will never die.

Just in case anyone is interested.

{{Stunning stuff Lance, didnt realise at first this was your actual trip and footage or Id have got round to it sooner. Some really nice shots in there. You didnt half get close to stuff! }}

great stuff Lance. what a fantastic trip!

Most of the time it was stuff getting close to us!!!

I need these videos to remind myself of what we did otherwise it goes out of my brain after a couple of weeks.

So I haven't gotten around to mentioning this yet, but every January for the next 3 years I'm going to India, as one of the 3 leaders of a field campaign to measure air pollution in cities at a the hyper local scale. We will be taking a group of students carrying a customized mobile pack of instruments, traversing the largest slum in India and comparing it to a more upscale residential neighborhood, both in Mumbai. We also may measure pollution gradients around the Taj Mahal.

I'm very excited about this, been dreaming about going to India for decades, but only wanted to go if it was with a native companion. So it's me and a couple of environmental professors from another college, one of whom is Indian.

But then a dark side came up: the two from the other college have started backbiting each other. The Indian woman has threatened to leave the grant several times. They have done several trips like this before and are like an old married couple that has dug deep furrows of antagonism they can't climb out of. I've been trying to play the peacemaker, but there's only so much I can do.

Fortunately the students haven't been exposed to this yet, but it's only a matter of time once we are all together. I'm hoping things will change once we're there: the students are so lovely and it helps bring out the best as we try to create the best environment for them. The last few weeks have been horrifically hectic as we scramble to get everything put together, but we are nearing the end.

The other two have formed an amazing bond with the Indian consulate over the last two trips, which has made a huge difference in the visa process. It's nice being treated like honored guests, special reception rooms turned over to us as we glue photographs to applications, etc. I'm hoping the good feelings will wash over the other two and heal their relationship.

That sounds great. I hope you all have a wicked time.

I have had a couple of trips to India but not really had a chance to see much as was through work. Would like to s0end some proper time there at some point.

By the way, I have booked up the hotel you recommended in N'Orleans. You are on the hook if it is a disaster!!!

I haven't slept there, but my good friend has, so I spent plenty of time in the bar/lobby listening to blues. And you can't beat the location!

If you don't book my suggested hotel in Austin, do take advantage of it as a pre-6th street launching pad.

As for India, I'll be working too, but we are doing at least one cultural event each week. Already have classical music/dance, a religious festival, and visit to the Taj Mahal lined up.

The hotel in Austin we have booked is called the Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel which is on 7th Street and a block down from the Driskill.

halfwise wrote:So I haven't gotten around to mentioning this yet, but every January for the next 3 years I'm going to India, as one of the 3 leaders of a field campaign to measure air pollution in cities at a the hyper local scale.  We will be taking a group of students carrying a customized mobile pack of instruments, traversing the largest slum in India and comparing it to a more upscale residential neighborhood, both in Mumbai.  We also may measure pollution gradients around the Taj Mahal.

I'm very excited about this, been dreaming about going to India for decades, but only wanted to go if it was with a native companion.  So it's me and a couple of environmental professors from another college, one of whom is Indian.

But then a dark side came up: the two from the other college have started backbiting each other.  The Indian woman has threatened to leave the grant several times.  They have done several trips like this before and are like an old married couple that has dug deep furrows of antagonism they can't climb out of.  I've been trying to play the peacemaker, but there's only so much I can do.

Fortunately the students haven't been exposed to this yet, but it's only a matter of time once we are all together.  I'm hoping things will change once we're there: the students are so lovely and it helps bring out the best as we try to create the best environment for them.  The last few weeks have been horrifically hectic as we scramble to get everything put together, but we are nearing the end.  

The other two have formed an amazing bond with the Indian consulate over the last two trips, which has made a huge difference in the visa process.  It's nice being treated like honored guests, special reception rooms turned over to us as we glue photographs to applications, etc.  I'm hoping the good feelings will wash over the other two and heal their relationship.

This is amazing news Halfy. I reckon when they see people with real problems around them their perspectives may change. Bickering about trivial stuff will seen silly. All I can advise is get all your shots, don't drink the water, and eat in hygienic places. Getting Montesuma's Revenge can really stuff a trip abroad. What an experience though.

Lancebloke wrote:The hotel in Austin we have booked is called the Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel which is on 7th Street and a block down from the Driskill.

Less pricy for the same evening access. 7th street is rather shabby, and 6th street also looks shabby in the daylight, so have your daytime adventures lined up that get you away from there. You're walking distance from the river, go rent some boats, drive around (Salt Lick BBQ in driftwood, etc). You're not there for the hotel.

Mrs Figg wrote:
This is amazing news Halfy. I reckon when they see people with real problems around them their perspectives may change. Bickering about trivial stuff will seen silly. All I can advise is get all your shots, don't drink the water, and eat in hygienic places. Getting Montesuma's Revenge can really stuff a trip abroad. What an experience though.

Oh, the bickering professors have been there before, and she's a native. What will solve their problems is focussing on the students.

We plan on only eating in restaurants, while looking with longing upon the street food. And I've learned the best way to deal with Mr Montezuma is to go on a fast. Sort of obvious in retrospect: what comes out must have come in; and the intestines will recover better if you quit giving them work to do so they can rest.

very sensible to avoid street food. I heard they sometimes poop in the street.

halfwise wrote:

Lancebloke wrote:The hotel in Austin we have booked is called the Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel which is on 7th Street and a block down from the Driskill.

Less pricy for the same evening access.  7th street is rather shabby, and 6th street also looks shabby in the daylight, so have your daytime adventures lined up that get you away from there.  You're walking distance from the river, go rent some boats, drive around (Salt Lick BBQ in driftwood, etc).  You're not there for the hotel.

We are looking to stay at a place called Cypress Hill for a few days between NO and Austin with then just a couple of nights in the city before we fly out.

The Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood is also on our list to visit as well as a couple of other places we noted down (can't think of them at the moment).

Mrs Figg wrote:very sensible to avoid street food. I heard they sometimes poop in the street.

The street food isn't too bad... anything that survives those oil barrel BBQs will survive in an oven!

It's the water you need to avoid, including ice in drinks, fresh salads that have been washed and brushing teeth.

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