Misplacing time.

What is blatantly obvious from the lack of updates here? Classes have started, and so I've stopped playing tourist and am (still) trying to play the role of a MICA student. Which really isn't easy, considering how it is a post-grad school.

We've still yet to figure out what on earth we're doing here, and how on earth we're gonna pass the courses. Haha, but as we're working on Indian time, there really is no hurry.

My schedule's been pretty lax so far, averaging on one class per day, yet despite the lack of Singaporean frenzy here, time unknowingly slips by me. I've been meaning to blog for days, but the time I set aside to do so is usually spent out in the city, or hanging out at Chota (this tea stall on campus) with the other French students.


And this is where I'll be for the next six (hopefully only three) months.


MICA's situated in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by fields where cows often graze.





This is Romain, one of the French exchange students we hang out with. Behind the amiable facade lies a champion bargainer. In fact, I'm almost certain that he bargains as well or even better than a local.


Slices of Indian life.








There are many such stalls selling kites 'cos of Makar Sankranti that's coming up on Monday here in Ahmedabad. Half the locals I ask have no idea what the celebration's for, except that it's a day when people fly kites. Haha.


These are the men preparing the strings. I think the rub it with glass powder, as they did last time in Singapore, if I remember my auntie correctly.


A camel I saw on my way to Law Garden on Sunday.


Law Market's a bazaar selling traditional Indian wear, like these. I bought the dark blue one.


And this is the lady who sold me the top.


Shopping in Ahmedabad is a hazardous affair of dodging traffic (no such thing as pavements here) and crowds. Amit, Erwin and I headed here for sustenance after a tiring Sunday evening at Law Garden.


Chocolate decadence pancakes. It was good. In fact, Erwin and I just went to The Chocolate Room again earlier today. Yum. Maybe they'll make us VIPS.


As part of our Imagining India course, we took a field trip out to one of the mosques.




The boy in blue was fascinated by my Nikon, and requested that I take a picture.


Then he got his family in...


And this girl wanted in on the action.


More of them.







The boys caught up with me and asked that I take more pictures of them.








The fantastic sunset skies.






There's a gorgeous lake that the site overlooks.


Inside the mosque.



There are plenty more, but they're gonna have to wait. :)

Snapshots of time.

While Kash got jiggy doing van-karaoke with Sumit and Amit,


Erwin, Nuria and I caught some shut-eye on the ride out for our New Year's sightseeing trip.


We stopped first at Lothal, where the 4000-year old remains of the ancient Harappan civilisation are preserved.


The place used to be a trading port, but the seas have receded and what remains is a lake-like pool of blue waters. That's Amit and Sumit standing on what used to be a dam.


And here's a shot of the four of us.


Kash was a bit too enthusiastic in scouting for a good shot, and got her foot stuck in Indian quick sand. While the rest of us looked on in amused shock, a good Samaritan gave her a helping hand.


I thought this picture Erwin took of me encapsulated what I've been feeling this past week in India - free, contented and incredibly happy.


This shot is dedicated to the one who introduced me to the beauty of the underside of foliage. It was a sweltering day at the Botanical Gardens and I remember looking on as you took shot after shot while standing under a giant tree of orange leaves. I've gone halfway around the world and yet you still visit me in sleep.


Erwin's aspiring war photojournalist shot. Haha.


The Indian sky's a cloudless, brilliant blue.


India really wouldn't be the India we've heard so much of without a few pictures of cows no?


If you didn't already guess, cows are everywhere, and as much a part of traffic as cars.


See what I mean?


Our next stop was the Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary.


This was the boat we took out to the lake for bird-watching.


Scenic serenity.




But being the photography buffs we were, we were more interested in snapping pictures of the gorgeous sunsets than sitting back and watching birds swoop.


























Vegetarianism is driving Erwin nuts. Here, he attempts to eat the sun. Probably imagining it as an egg...










Silhouettes of the boatman.





Along with the fading glow of the setting sun, our camera batteries died on us and successfully curbed all urges to whip out our cameras with every picturesque shot. As we drifted on the silent lake for the last ten minutes, I finally stopped looking at the surroundings through the lens. Instead of fighting against time to immortalize the beauty on film, I saw beauty without the need to possess it.

Birds swooping in flocks against the rosy sunset sky, the gentle ripples of the water, and the chill of the approaching night.

I finally understood.

Having a thousand beautiful snapshots are nothing in comparison to a moment's quiet appreciation, and of truly being. I may not have the pictures that captured the last moments of the ebbing sunlight, but I doubt that I would ever forget how it felt like to sit on the lake thinking that there was no place I would rather be.

Transcience. It's beautiful.