From My Recent Journey In India
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
We Arrive at Nourah's village on the last day. He asks if I had a good time. Yes, I sure did Nourah, but there is one thing I never had a chance to do. Just once, I would like to see how fast a camel can run. He gives me a sideways look as if to say: 'you asked for it." He puts me on my camel 'Journey' and he gets on behind me. We head to an oval track on his property and away we go.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Friday, October 05, 2007
Truck Learning Curve
This is my new (old) construction truck. It's a nice looking truck and it has a powerful engine. If I push on the gas pedal the wheels squeal and burn rubber. But I wasn't sure I would actually get it on the road. Melbah and I answered an ad on the Internet. We both had the feeling that this was the truck to buy. 
We make an appointment and drive an hour and a half to a farm on the banks of Lake Huron. A young Dutch couple; Eric and Petra, meet us and we take the truck for a spin. The driver's door doesn't close properly and I see rust spots but we make a deal to buy it for just under two thousand dollars. 
The only problem is that it needs a safety inspection to be legal on the road. Eric tells us he has had it inspected just six months earlier. He promises me it will pass again and implies that he will take the truck back if we have a problem. This is the moment of my fateful mistake. I should have refused to proceed until he completed the inspection and paperwork, but I didn't. I decide to take the chance on it passing again. But the next day when I take it to the mechanic he comes back with bad news. Steve tells me the truck is a wreck. An engine mount is broken, a brake is installed backwards, there is a hole in the cab wall that needs welding and a body mount has rusted through. Then he shows me that the truck has NO EXHAUST PIPE. EEK. It looks like it could cost a thousand dollars or more to make it road worthy. I am very upset by this news. I phone Eric and Petra and tell them the news. At first Eric is very sympathetic and sets up an appointment at the mechanic's where he had the other safety inspection done. But when I take it in that following Monday, the other mechanic knows nothing of the arrangement. I phone Eric and ask if he will pay for this other inspection. 
He tells me I am on my own. He has had the weekend to talk himself out of his own ethics and let's me know I can kiss off. So here I am with a truck that is quickly becoming a white elephant. My sister and I go back to the Steve the mechanic and explain the situation. But mysteriously, he seems to not think so many things have to be done to the truck after all. I get out of there for five hundred and fifty dollars. I got off easy. I should have never bought the truck without having the safety inspection done. In fact, Eric and Petra should have paid for the transfer papers as well. But now I have a truck, and I have it working. Melbah and I even manage to find a white topper that fits that exact model of truck. And we got it for just fifty dollars. So now I'm in business. I build some plywood compartments inside and a pull out drawer and I'm ready to carry my tools. I learned a big lesson here. I am just happy I got through this with a truck on the road. Whew!
We make an appointment and drive an hour and a half to a farm on the banks of Lake Huron. A young Dutch couple; Eric and Petra, meet us and we take the truck for a spin. The driver's door doesn't close properly and I see rust spots but we make a deal to buy it for just under two thousand dollars. 
The only problem is that it needs a safety inspection to be legal on the road. Eric tells us he has had it inspected just six months earlier. He promises me it will pass again and implies that he will take the truck back if we have a problem. This is the moment of my fateful mistake. I should have refused to proceed until he completed the inspection and paperwork, but I didn't. I decide to take the chance on it passing again. But the next day when I take it to the mechanic he comes back with bad news. Steve tells me the truck is a wreck. An engine mount is broken, a brake is installed backwards, there is a hole in the cab wall that needs welding and a body mount has rusted through. Then he shows me that the truck has NO EXHAUST PIPE. EEK. It looks like it could cost a thousand dollars or more to make it road worthy. I am very upset by this news. I phone Eric and Petra and tell them the news. At first Eric is very sympathetic and sets up an appointment at the mechanic's where he had the other safety inspection done. But when I take it in that following Monday, the other mechanic knows nothing of the arrangement. I phone Eric and ask if he will pay for this other inspection. 
He tells me I am on my own. He has had the weekend to talk himself out of his own ethics and let's me know I can kiss off. So here I am with a truck that is quickly becoming a white elephant. My sister and I go back to the Steve the mechanic and explain the situation. But mysteriously, he seems to not think so many things have to be done to the truck after all. I get out of there for five hundred and fifty dollars. I got off easy. I should have never bought the truck without having the safety inspection done. In fact, Eric and Petra should have paid for the transfer papers as well. But now I have a truck, and I have it working. Melbah and I even manage to find a white topper that fits that exact model of truck. And we got it for just fifty dollars. So now I'm in business. I build some plywood compartments inside and a pull out drawer and I'm ready to carry my tools. I learned a big lesson here. I am just happy I got through this with a truck on the road. Whew!Thursday, October 04, 2007
Nourah; Camel Driver
From My Recent Journey In India
Nourah wants to buy his own camels and do his own Safaris. We are thinking of investing in a camel with him. Camels cost about $300 to buy. 
At the end of the journey we arrived at Nourah's village in the desert. The only people who live here are his own family and brothers and a couple of aunts and uncles; about fifteen people in all. That's his wife in the green and his brother next to her. You would never know Nourah and his wife were married from looking at them in public. Indian culture does not allow public shows of affection. Muslim couples are even more strict that way. I found his family to be very polite and respectful.
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
This is our third and last day on the Safari. We arrive in a small settlement made up of a few brick buildings and goat corrals.
Nourah did a great job of guiding us through the desert. Here he is with his (my) camel 'Journey'. Many people think of camels as being unpredictable and snappy, but Nourah says that most are very docile and friendly because they are used to being around people.
This is our third and last day on the Safari. We arrive in a small settlement made up of a few brick buildings and goat corrals.
Nourah did a great job of guiding us through the desert. Here he is with his (my) camel 'Journey'. Many people think of camels as being unpredictable and snappy, but Nourah says that most are very docile and friendly because they are used to being around people.
Nourah wants to buy his own camels and do his own Safaris. We are thinking of investing in a camel with him. Camels cost about $300 to buy. At the end of the journey we arrived at Nourah's village in the desert. The only people who live here are his own family and brothers and a couple of aunts and uncles; about fifteen people in all. That's his wife in the green and his brother next to her. You would never know Nourah and his wife were married from looking at them in public. Indian culture does not allow public shows of affection. Muslim couples are even more strict that way. I found his family to be very polite and respectful.Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Healing Moment
Vancouver, BC, Canada, September 16, 2007
It's my last full day in Vancouver before I head back to Waterloo. My brother Pete picks me up from Scott and Judy's and takes me to his home in White Rock.
This is Pete with two of his daughters; Millie (holding) Sasha. I make a point of spending a bit of time with Millie. She and I have both studied the same Spiritual path and I always enjoy the chance to talk to her since we share many of the same beliefs. As we're outside in Pete's back yard, 
I am
drawn to this statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, who is mentioned in the Eck Teachings. He reminds me of a blog story Melbah wrote a while back about a Saint who showed up in a tree trunk. While I'm talking with Millie it's like we're in a different world. All these elements make up something greater than the talk we're having. It's a magical meeting and I have a strong sense of healing around us.
It's my last full day in Vancouver before I head back to Waterloo. My brother Pete picks me up from Scott and Judy's and takes me to his home in White Rock.
This is Pete with two of his daughters; Millie (holding) Sasha. I make a point of spending a bit of time with Millie. She and I have both studied the same Spiritual path and I always enjoy the chance to talk to her since we share many of the same beliefs. As we're outside in Pete's back yard, 
I am
drawn to this statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, who is mentioned in the Eck Teachings. He reminds me of a blog story Melbah wrote a while back about a Saint who showed up in a tree trunk. While I'm talking with Millie it's like we're in a different world. All these elements make up something greater than the talk we're having. It's a magical meeting and I have a strong sense of healing around us. Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Desert Life
From My Recent Journey In India
Jaisalmer, India, January, 2007
We settle into desert life very easily. It's quiet out here and very peaceful. Every so often I turn around and snap a photo of Aw on her camel. We each carry one bag of personal stuff on the camel's saddle horn.
We come across a lot of these large green bushes as we travel. These are all that break up the landscape for most of our journey.
Our camels only eat once a day. Nourah spreads out some grain on a blanket for each of our pals. We carry the feed with us.
Nourah makes us dinner from scratch. He brings rice and vegetables and the ingredients for chapattis. There's nothing better than the smell of a meal cooking in the quiet of the evening just before the sun goes down.
We sit on our camp blankets and watch the sun set through the bush. For me, the Safari is all about this kind of moment. To truly enjoy the experience, we slow ourselves into the moment and enjoy what is, right now.
Jaisalmer, India, January, 2007
We settle into desert life very easily. It's quiet out here and very peaceful. Every so often I turn around and snap a photo of Aw on her camel. We each carry one bag of personal stuff on the camel's saddle horn.
We come across a lot of these large green bushes as we travel. These are all that break up the landscape for most of our journey.
Our camels only eat once a day. Nourah spreads out some grain on a blanket for each of our pals. We carry the feed with us.
Nourah makes us dinner from scratch. He brings rice and vegetables and the ingredients for chapattis. There's nothing better than the smell of a meal cooking in the quiet of the evening just before the sun goes down.
We sit on our camp blankets and watch the sun set through the bush. For me, the Safari is all about this kind of moment. To truly enjoy the experience, we slow ourselves into the moment and enjoy what is, right now.
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