We are all that we have met.

I miss travelling. At lunch the other day, my co-workers and I were discussing our ideal trips or vacations. The first dream that came to mind was a month-long (at the least) backpacking journey around India; north to south and everywhere in between.

I’ve never been to India (mind you, that can be considered a big deal being that I am Indian). Although my Gujarati-speaking and Hindi-speaking skills are lacking significantly, what better way to learn, right?  I’m sure I’d feel the culture shock to a more concentrated degree without being able to communicate effectively with those around me and therefore (among many other reasons); I’d stand out like Yao Ming in China. But oh well, those experiences sometimes make the juiciest of memoirs, sour or sweet.

This post was inspired by National Geographic’s list of “133 Destinations Rated” (most recommended places to visit) from all over the world. Rajasthan made roll at #64 and stood out to me as I browsed through the lengthy tab of mysterious and magnificent locations. Ragasthan was deemed as “India’s Tuscany” with a “strong sense of cultural identity” and “remarkable appeal and mystique.” How ironic…that’s exactly what I love to be exposed to! The photo to the left of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, was taken by “dwrawlinson” on flickr.com. His photo collection is amazing and definitely worth a peek.

If it’s not a month-long (plus) trekking trip on Indian soil, I would love to go spend some time in South Africa with my family. It’d also be great to pay tribute to my motherland’s gem-locations that are commonly revered, furtively hidden, and culturally authentic. I can’t even imagine the kind of memories that would flood my mind if I were to revisit the places I had been to when I was a child. There’s also so much that I don’t know and haven’t seen; wisdom which I’ve mutedly encountered in others’ fascinating stories and appealing photos.

However, an expedition that is more attainable, which I’d like to see in the nearer future, would be to span my current home: the good ol’ US of A. From west to east; major cities beyond the borders of the golden state, superfluous culture and customs of their own, diversity encapsulated, and (inevitability) seasonal weather that ranges from the prime meridian to the equator.

So many places to explore…

शांति
Chetna

I saw a play called “Groundswell” at the San Jose Repertory on the evening of Halloween with my parents. We had the best seats in the small but accommodating theatre; orchestra seating, smack-dab middle of the second row. So pretty much we could see every bead of sweat on the actors’ foreheads and the spit sputtered with every bellow.

Despite the play’s modest cast of three actors, a 1 hour 40 minute act, and minimal sound effects; the intermingling of three forlorn South African characters from very different backgrounds and pasts led to an interesting and subtly profound performance.

The play takes place in modern day, post-Apartheid South Africa, in the dining room/lobby of a cottage villa in the middle of nowhere off the beachy west coast. Although a portion of the dialogue was in Afrikaans and each of the characters came from diverse and predominant backgrounds and classes of South Africa (Kosa, Afrikaner, and South African Brit – mind you, the American actors had an impeccable impression of each of their character’s accents, in my opinion), this performance could appeal to any audience from any continent. The diamond trade business went mentioned in the play; however, its details were muted. The post-Apartheid life was a more present focus throughout the scene but every major theme entrenched in this story ultimately related back to human nature; what people do when they feel guilty, helpless, desperate, in denial, or in need of compensation or even redemption for themselves.

Every character displayed a strong yet personal impression of how they and their people should be treated in present, post-Apartheid South Africa. The surprising thing is that there was a lot of overlap…each of them felt that they should be compensated in some shape or form for their experiences in the past because of the Apartheid or the results of it, further proving that people are still trying to find their identities, roles, and responsibilities in society today.

Below is a behind-the-scenes interview with the three actors and the director. I would definitely recommend seeing “Groundswell!”

Vrede.
C