Pop - M.I.A.
So I feel I have alot to write about...however, I am really tired and don't want to spend forever making this tonight. So maybe everyone can be okay with summaries. If not, you're fired.
India first:
You can't be prepared for something like that. Unless you've been to a country that has been exploited (although beautifully: see this and this) by people coming in from outside and who's people (many not all) are still being oppressed by the archaic caste system (which, I might add, is both a great way to keep away progress and keep people in the dark about their condition without necessitating oppressive religion or government). The poverty was as undeniable as the lack of sanitation systems. It was an eye-opener to see progression squandered by culture. I would argue that it's normally the other way around. Maybe that's what they call a backwards system.
But to not appear like I hated India, because it is quite the contraire, I learned alot about happiness. Our first guide has lived in Delhi all his life and has traveled out of the country only a handful of times. He Loves It. I've never seen that kind of attachment to a place of residence. And although that's hard for me to understand, his love is certainly not without merit. There are a plethora of opportunities to help people daily, the people build extraordinarily strong relationships, and love for life abounds. I would say "ignorance is bliss," but that would be slightly condescending and I don't wish for that.
To close, the monuments (there are actually more than the Taj Mahal), the food, the scenery, was all amazing, but the people were the best part. Basic but intuitive, simple but content. I'd go back.
Tonight was the first Thursday Night Ride I've done in 3 weeks. It was awesome.
This is the route that we took zoom out one.
I haven't been this tired since hockey in highschool. That being said, it is a great feeling putting out nearly everything you have. On that last hill to get to montmartre I estimate I was putting out 98% of what I could have. On the way home, I took my new favorite route, from rivoli through the musee du louvre and heard a veritable dance party. So I checked it out. As it turns out, there was an outdoor party in the tuilleries. It was obviously invite only because they had a security guard and there couldn't have been more than 200 (fashionably dressed and beautiful) people there. Plus, the parkay floor that was layed down flat and even couldn't have been cheap on the gravel ground. But right when I rolled up the song switched to Kylie's In My Arms and the crowd got down. As did I. I was stoked to hear a dj spin that track as it's at least half a year old.So to all the haters out there that don't think people get down to Kylie, hate on that.
My muscles were/are still
Later
Bonus:
This song is energetic and overall pretty awesome:
Heads Will Roll (Young Live - Starters Remix) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I will certainly be copping the album when I get back to the US.
