Better late than never

Hi folks at home.

It's been a while, how have you been? So it turns out that my good friend and travel buddy, sir Benjamin McFeeters, is currently blogging and doing a truly spiffing job of the whole concept! Please check it out for more info and juicy gossip from the trip!

So long time eh? Well since last communication... Spent a week travelling around Israel, Jerusalem, dead sea and Eilat. Accommodation was random people's couches and the desert floor for a night. Food included humus, falafel, pita bread...that's about all. Activities were mostly free tourist spots incl jerusalem tour, yad vashem holocaust museum (a morose 'must see' for Jerusalem), the free tram, dead sea, a few catholic churches that claim to have some significance. We climbed a mountain to watch sunrise. We went snorkelling and met many good people.

Then to India! Mumbai was first stop! A crazy town, filled with homeless people, homeless cows, homeless looking tourists. We stayed at a couple interesting places and did some awesome tourist activities like getting the train, the bus, talking to crazy Indian people, eating all types of street food, getting ill from street food, we went to church, which was pretty nice to be back with the family again. We spent time with an Indian couchsurfer friend who lived there. Bartering is muchos fun! The following is a transcript of a typical market conversation, modelled on an encounter Ben had buying some postcards.

Act 1. Scene 1.
Marketeer: 'my friend, my friend, you want? Good friend, looking is free!, just look!'
Ben: 'alright man, how's it goin?' how much?'
Marketeer: 'for you, good price, only 400 rupees!'
Ben: 'Ok, I'll give you 10 rupees'
Marketeer: 'no my friend! Good quality, good price! What price you like?'
Ben: 'ok, 50 rupees. Best price'
Marketeer: 'my friend, 50 too low!'
Ben: 'sorry my friend, too much, see you later' (begin walk away)
Marketeer: 'ok, 50 rupees'
Ben: 'na, i didn't really want them anyway. Thanks!'

So I'll update more later. Basically we travelled around south india for 3 weeks and now We are right now on plane to Malaysia for 2 days.

This Christmas, do something special for your kids; take the liberty to arrange them a marriage.

Peace