Random Photos of the Week

We saw this nice spread of National Geographic Magazine on a newsstand in downtown Panjim, Goa. Although those still working at NG's Office of Consumer & Member Marketing (Vid's old stomping ground) would argue that only the most recent editions should be on display, seeing all of the old covers from our time in DC made us a bit nostalgic. Adam even had a 3' x 4' blow up poster of the "Growing Fuel" cover in his office at EPA (somebody reading this blog might even be able to confirm whether it is still there).

Holi!

Most of the Fellows from the Deshpande Foundation came down from the twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad to celebrate Holi with us in Bangalore. Here are some photos from the shenanigans at the apartment-wide Holi party this morning. Thankfully, most of the dye washed out after a very long scrub, and the help of Rin dish detergent! Happy Holi everybody!

Random Photo of the Week

After a brief hiatus, we are back with the random photo of the week. This one is hot off the digital press, as we quickly snapped this photo today of the local postman while he was doing his daily delivery by bicycle. It has been two days in a row that we have seen him during our lunchtime walk. You definitely don't see mail delivered like this everyday in the states!

Adam’s Top 12 Skills Learned/Enhanced While Living In India (not necessarily in any particular order)

1. How to haggle with local autorickshaw drivers and shopkeepers (often in Kannada too).

2. How to show up to a 1:00 meeting by 1:20 and still be early thanks to IST (India Stretch Time).

3. How to make a good cup of chai - Vid’s parents will even drink it!

4. The proper way to do the non-committal Indian head bob in combination with a “yes, yes, okay.”

5. How to ride a scooter on Indian roads without incurring (or creating) an accident. Note: Vidya get s some credit for this from providing back-seat driving jabs to my sides whenever I need to honk, break, stop, etc.

6. Creative writing, both through this blog and while writing 14 reports on ‘effective’ watershed management for Government of India.

7. How to successfully eat a whole plate of curd (yogurt) rice with my right hand without getting my palm dirty.

8. Not-so-quality, yet entertaining, Bollywood dancing.

9. Most of the rules for cricket, including the difference between 20-20, ODI, and Test matches

10. How to avoid paying a bribe to cops for driving without an Indian license – The key is to seem totally lost, confused, and constantly ask for directions.

11. How to effectively look in all directions, including down (poop!) while walking in public places

12. How to eat Indian food that is spicier than my wife and in-laws can tolerate, much to the awe of the restaurant waitstaff.

Reader Demographics

Dear Ardent Readers of Adam&Vid,

Here is a snapshot of yourselves that we have compiled through Google Analytics. Before we used the software, we had no idea how and when people read the blog, what articles they liked, which parts of the world they came from, etc. Though our intention for the blog was to maintain an online diary of our experiences for us, sharing it with all of you has become just as much fun and motivating! So here is a quick synopsis of you....
(Note: These results reflect trends for the month of January)



Yay and congrats to the readers in the U.S. and India!! You mostly form our coterie of close friends and family, thanks for supporting us. It’s just as cool to have a dabbling of readers from other parts of the world. Please keep coming by....

Top city honours go to Bangalore! The only caveat is that the number includes the times Adam or I visit the site, both from work and home (different IP addresses). I know, I know – trying to control those bouts of ADD at work.
Washington is next for all our friends out there....but Braddock, whoever you are, you are beating the rest of the crew! Columbus is in very close contention for third place – you can do it!



So how did you get to our blog? Here are the main sources.....
Seems like posting new articles on Facebook is working out pretty, pretty well! ;)

We were curious as to what organic searches on Google brought you over....it makes an interesting list (especially the last one!)

And finally....here are the articles that got the highest number of hits
photos-from-gokarna 13.9%
things-i-love-about-living-in-benggaloray 11.8%
travelling-in-style-in-bengga-loray 11.6%
random-photo-of-week-11 10.7%
in-grips-of-culture-shock 10.2%
advent-of-internet-in-my-life 9.3%
random-photo-of-week 8.6%
random-photo-of-week-18 8.1%
random-photo-of-week-31 7.9%
scenes-from-development-dialogue-day-1 7.9%

Scenes from Goa

We just got back from an amazing trip to Goa, where we spent a good amount of time swimming and bodysurfing the waves, relaxing in the sun, cruising on our scooter, and eating a lot of yummy seafood (with an Indian twist of course). We've got a lot of good stories to tell, but here are a few highlights:
1. Gorging on tasty walnut brownies from Infantaria
2. Drinking Kingfisher shandys nearly every meal
3. Successfully avoiding having to pay a bribe to a Goa motor cop for not carrying a license
4. Narrowly escaping the set of 15+ foot beachwide waves that were just looking to throw us onto the shore
5. Late night shopping at the Arpora Saturday Night Market
6. Reliving Dil Chatha Hai scenes at Chapora Fort

Goa...aaaaahhhh

We're off to the beaches of Goa today for a week of well deserved rest and relaxation (although maybe not as deserved as those in DC still digging out of the latest snowstorm!). Our hub is the often tourist-laden Calangute and Baga beaches, but we intend to explore all corners of the region. See you next week!