Sunny March: On the road again (Part 1)

2005-03-23

Hello, I am back. I couldn’t remember when the last time I posted up an update was but if my mind doesn’t fool me, I think it is approximately some two good weeks ago. Since then, lots of things had happen in my life; birthday party, travelling, arrival and departure, new people I encounter along my travelling, train of thought and many more.

My visa extension is painstaking pain in the ass. The commissioner of police or the immigration department had required me to go through many level of authority just to get the visa extension. My visa is still under process at the time of writing this and in either this week or early next week, I am heading to Mumbai and New Delhi to proceed with the pain in the ass process of becoming yet another alien, in the land name India.

For the past one month, I was back to the mood of cooking and preparing my own dishes, just like what I did regularly during my first two month here. I quite enjoy it and through my little creativity, I managed to create and cook a very exquisite dinner, not only for myself but also for others. It wasn’t a Malaysian food nor was it an Italian food. It is simply Peter’s cooking.

Usually I will only cook for the number of 3 to4 people in the house. I will slice onions, tomatoes, and papitas and cooked them with oil until the smell is in the air. Substantially, I will add tomato ketchup and some water, sprinkle it with black paper, thick Soya sauce, salt and sugar and eventually it will become some sort of Spaghetti’s gravy but it taste better. It will take around 30 to 40 minutes for slicing, preparing and cooking. Then, come the meaty part where I bought it from the butcher shop nearby. I will slice it into very small pieces, marinated it with thick Soya sauce, black paper and sprinkle it with small slices of onions. After that, I will fry it with little bit of cooking oil, butter and eggs. The smell and taste is always awesome. Last meal was to boil the noodle with the remaining chicken bones and liver. The method of serving is to put the gravy and the meats on top of the noodle and when everyone tastes it or rather eat it, it is paradise and high praises. It is strange; I never knew I can cook that well because back home, I never really try all of this and if my mum were to know this, she is going to cook me because I never cook at home. Apart from this, I also tried to prepare pisang goreng or in English, “fried banana” and usually serve before the main course. All of my friends especially the Caucasians like it.

The best about cooking is you receive much more satisfaction than if you were to order from a restaurant. It is funny that it took you so long to prepare and cook but it only took less than 5 minutes to see the food vanished, completely disappear. I guess after all, the joy and satisfaction is to see people enjoy the taste of my foods and that, all my effort and wasted time in the kitchen are not end up in vain.

I also couldn’t remember when was the last time I was on the road, travelling but as far as I can remember, it was maybe one month or so ago. And it was the Northern India trip. While every travelling trip was a unforgettable one, each with its own memory and experience to treasure and cherish, the latest trip I had been, which is to Ajantha caves, Buldana, Palorim of Northern Goa has its own memories and good times.

Buldana is a small town, a 12 hours bus ride away from the cosmopolitan Pune, where I am base at. Buldana is the kind of town where everybody knows everybody, especially in the small villages or community in Buldana. There is nothing fascinating about this part of India. The reason we travelled to this part of town, burning and wasting our money and time respectively was to visit friends rather than the places itself.

So it was midnight when Martin the Everclear, Marielle and I departure on the miserable, run down government owned bus to Ajantha caves, a historical place situated in between Pune and Buldana.
It was a bumpy journey all the way and thanks to our experience, we somehow manage to sleep through the uncomfortable journey. We reached Aurangabad’ bus terminal at about 5 in the morning and from there, we took another run down bus to Ajantha caves and reached there at about 7.30am. One hour after that, Maryla the Luxembourg girl and Nathan the American gay (trainees from Buldana) was there and together we venture into the rediscovery of Buddha and its glorifications by the ancient Ajantha kingdom.

Ajantha caves were built from around 200 BC to 650 AD. The huge mountain contains about 30 caves and was built to glorify Buddhism. The 30 caves are cut into the steep face of a horseshoe shaped rock gorge on the Waghore River. Each cave contains some of the oldest and still remaining to this day, historical monuments and artefacts, mostly tell us about the life of Buddha from the date he was born into the royal kingdom, until the day he abandoned the kingdom, seeking for enlightenment and everything after that. I am sure most of us still remember those murals we used to study in our historical places and I am now experiencing those remaining murals or wall painting and crafted Buddha in various meditated position (crafted from the rocks)

The works of people in the ancient day was super marvellous. If you are well versed with the teaching of Buddha or simple history, you will know that in early Buddhist school, the Buddha and his teaching was never represented directly- his presence was always alluded by a symbol such as the footprint or wheel of law. The Mural paintings in Ajantha caves that survived through many centuries were painted by animal glue and vegetable gum mixed with the paint pigments to bind them to the dry surface.



Some of the paintings, elaborate sculptures and narrative murals in Ajantha caves include scenes from the Jatakas (tales from the Buddha’s various life), Buddha’s birth and his mother’s dream of a six tusked elephant, which heralded the Buddha’s conception, scenes of people fleeing from the eight great dangers to the protection of Buddha and a lots more.

We spent about 2-3 hours to walk along the Ajantha caves, visited almost every caves while bathing in sweat under the sun.

We walked up to the highest peak and we overseeing the whole of Ajantha caves. It was gorgeous, simply amazing.

From Ajantha caves, we went with Nathan and Maryla (with their NGO’s jeep driver) to Buldana. The hot and sandy and dusty journey took us about another 90 minutes and we reached the small town of Buldana. Since Buldana is a place way outskirt of India’s famous places and no one seems to know where it located, not even the Indians themselves, it came as no surprise when we were constantly stared by the people. But thankfully, it was not that kind of jealousy stare, it was a friendly stare and people there were very friendly.

We reach the village where the Buldana trainees resided. The village and the whole community, including the school, the orphanage house was run by a local, voluntarily and social worker for over 40 years, championing the fundamental needs like hygienic foods and basic education deserve and being deprived by every kids. The community had a mini zoo. One cage is occupied with this big crocodile and I named him Johnny immediately. And to the monkeys, rabbits, dogs, peacocks etc, I named them all Johnny.

It was a completely traditional life and pollution was at its lowest level possible. The kind of town where the whole village turn dark and soundless when the clock pointed to 9.30pm and alive again as early as 4 in the morning.

All we did was just chatting with the rest of Buldana trainees (Maryla, Nathan and Marjolijn) until midnight. Maryla and I were mostly drinking vodka and smoking up, amid the quiet traditional life of Buldana. We headed to the bed and so my soul was once again, like every night, flying free across the cosmic universe, in search of another freedom.

When the morning sun rising up above the sky shine down on us, so gloriously while the birds were chirping and flying freely, I woke up amid the morning breeze and silences. Everybody was still asleep like a baby, so I decided to ride a bicycle, together with a kid from the neighbourhood, to round and discover the market which full of traders and the neighbourhood.

We were invited by a local chipmaker, which owns a chip factory in Buldana’s industrial zone to his house for a lunch. The industrial zone in Buldana is just a huge empty land, occupied only by few small factories and miles separated them. Around the tiny chip factory, was a cotton factory. We were being shown around, to all of their machines like we are the potential buyers. The Indian dishes were good, delicious. After lunch, we went to visit another NGO which is call Love trust, set up by Mr. Love of England to provide protection and care to abandoned mother, pregnant girls, outcast by society merely because they were pregnant without father (being rape mostly). In usual case, they were too desperate that they will just kill the baby just to return to their friend and family (society), meaning to get back their self-dignity. Love trust was established to protect and to provide mental strength to these unfortunate girls (so they can continue to cope with life) and babies) an opportunity to grow up)

In the afternoon, Nathan and I were playing football, on the sand (not field) with the orphanage kids while the rest of the trainees seating by the side, playing and entertaining the kids of various ages.

At night, we were invited to have a mass diner with the orphanage kids where all of us, seating in lines, in a hall, waiting for another kid to serve the meal. Remember the dinner of the orphanage kids in the movie Oliver? That’s exactly it was. The kids needless to say were so happy of our presence let alone dinner with them.

In Buldana, we also met up with Parthibar, a very old guy, which we think are around 85 years old. He is the longest serving caretaker of the village and he is now waiting for his time to come. According to the local, he was a Gandhi follower and was one of the participants in the Anti Violent movement.

We left Buldana at around 11pm. We bade farewell with Marjolijn the Dutch girl and Nathan. Maryla was ill and didn’t manage to accompany us to the bus terminal. She gave me a Luxembourg post card with special wishes (birthday and others) and we kissed and hugged goodbye.

Though I would say that it was a boring place to be at but the short visit we made, we will forever remember and being remembered. Weekend visit to Buldana is OK but the completely remote, traditional life with nothing to enjoy except for the nature’s nature and the kids and all the social works left me thinking, how in the hell these trainees can live in Buldana for such a long time. For me personally, I think I will go crazy because this place is not for me, at least for a long period.

But after a round of reflecting, of seeing how Nathan played football and talking and treating them, how the girls collected their money (most probably from their college fund) to buy sport and education equipments for the less fortunate, I manage to understand how and why these people can do it.



They live it through simply because they have each other, through the days and most importantly, the noble cause they were not only doing, but by living it through with the rest of the community, contributing and sharing their knowledge to the less fortunate ones, be with them, adding values, play with them. They showed it to them; especially the orphanage kids the greatest gift anyone could give in this world, which is love and hope. Nine month away from their first world country in Europe and the United States, to be secluded and completely remote, sacrificing their precious times and moment with friends and family just to live in some back corner of India. These things, the time spent, the love poured, tell the kids that there are people out there who care for their being and there are people who are willing to live with them, to dream with them and to aspire to achieve the dream, no matter how wildest they are. Don’t give up.

I believe, even though our trip may be short and soon we will most probably forgotten about Buldana but one thing I know for sure is our presence there had left a giant mark and big meaning to those kids and they will forever remember us. Even for the trainees themselves, I can see it through their eyes that they were truly happy and appreciated our presence to the back corner of India where most trainees promised of going but never actually made it. The remaining of the Buldana trainees namely Nathan, Maryla and Marjolijn will be leaving end of March and in June, Buldana will welcoming another group of people. To Buldana trainees, you all had my words and you now eat and chewed them because finally I made it there to your back corner and live and experience our times with the kids. The kids might know about Germany, America, Holland etc but now new country had entered their brain; MALAYSIA!!

As a token of birthday gift, Marjolijn gave me a pack of chocolate biscuit, for the road. And again, we were on our odyssey back to Pune, with the so-called semi-deluxe bus. Marielle, Martin and I were seat together and we were seating still, struggling hard to sleep through. It was so hard and the road was quite bumpy all the way that our asses were burning and we got to pull our knees close to our head to avoid the discomfort.

In the midnight, Marielle and Martin, woke me up just to sing me a happy birthday song. They got me a small “laughing Buddha” from Ajantha caves as a token of gift and together we open the remaining pack of chocolate biscuits and mineral waters, in celebration of my birthday. Though it was a miserable bus ride but the celebration was something very meaningful. After about 20 minutes, I close my eyes again and with Counting Crow & Blof’s “Holiday in Spain” and Toto’s “Rosanna”, I forgot the rest of the song tracks and the rest of the night was caught in between sleeping and awake until we reached Aurangabad and from there, we proceeded to Pune and we reached Pune at about 6 am. I slept for 2 hours and went to work until the day welcoming the dusk.

On Wednesday, one day before I went on the road again to Northern Goa (Palorim), I organized a birthday party, my 25th one. It was one of the greatest parties I had, beating all of my birthday parties in pub and disco.

Kristine, Omar’s ex girlfriend arrived in India that day while Omar was in Bombay. She, in my own opinion, the most hip, most gorgeous, outspoken, with much charisma and attitude, undoubtedly, the most beautiful girl among all of the trainees I ever met in Pune. She speaks very good English and French, accented Arabic, moderate Italian, Spanish and German. All in all, she speaks 6 languages.

Kristine and I went to market to shop for stuff I need for my birthday party. Since I was broke, very broke, I budgeted very little for this party. So I decided to cook for the 25 invited guests. So, we end with 2 kg of chicken, lots of onions, papitas, tomatoes, cucumber, tomato ketchup, and 10 packs of 200 grams noodles, butter, junk foods and lots more.

At night (night before the party), Meike helped me slicing and preparing my “Peter”’ specialty. With Kenya’s “Langala” music and later greatest hits of The Beatles, we spent about 2-3 hours of preparing.

And for the first time in my life, my party was fully sponsored by a beer company. Jag, the Indian guy who I got to know, so do most of the trainees, is the sales manager for “Castle” beer (South African beer) in Pune. I called him the day before and in less than minutes, he agreed to bring for me as a gift, two cartons of 650 ml of beers. I guess it is again, whom you know NOT what you know.

The dinner and birthday party started around 930pm and in less than 15 minutes, 60% of main dishes was attacked. The special marinated chickens were completely gone. All of the invited people were present including the famous one and the influential one which I was very happy and felt the honour.

That including DJ Sharifi (with his bags of CD and music, his rice bowl), Martin the guy from Botswana, Pune’s rapper, Pradeep, owner of travel agency, Jag, sales manager of castle beer and friend, his friend which is with Smirnoff, Nina, Erin, Anouk the French guy, Dean Cain look alike and lots more including the new trainee girl from Germany and Macedonia.

The party was full of people, some was talking to each other, in group, in the living room, kitchen, in the balcony etc. As for the birthday boy, I was with Kristine, Omar, Erin, Nina, Martin, and Sharifi in the corner of our big balcony, smoking up and drinking and exchanging views of general knowledge. And then came the surprises, Marielle stood up and gave a speech and followed by me, thanking everyone for turning up, thanking Jag for the beers and so forth. The people gave me a very nice and expensive T-shirt, which printed "Jerk" on it, and lots of Sony empty CD, for obvious reason. Sharifi gave me a Reggae swing bag, the Rastafarian one with Marijuana plant on it.

The party was a great one. I never thought of organizing a party like that. I was broke but I was determine enough to make it happen and since celebrating birthday out of the country is once in a blue moon, at least for a small boy from a back corner street of Penang Island. Again, what the alchemist said was right.

This will be the end of part one. In part 2 of Sunny March: On the road again, I will write about my trip to Northern Goa (Parolem), the great and ordinary people I met, with lots of interesting stories to tell, the nudity beach, Matt Damon, photographer, the beautiful girl I befriended with, the celebrity’s connection I met (Of Lenny Kravitz, Eminem etc) and so forth.

So stay chill always. Assalamualaikum!!

Love and regards,
Peter