A year-in-review
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under notes, photography
2009 kinda kicked ass
This past year pretty much rocked. And the New Year came in fine manner. No kisses, but a bonfire amid the palm trees (above), new friends, lobster, a decent cigar (thanks, C!), champagne and even the Harry Connick, Jr., band playing Auld Lang Syne at midnight (never leave home without the iPod).
I meant to post this sooner, but here’s a little look back at my new life (as chronicled on this blog):
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Tags: andaman and nicobar, antananarivo, beach, beer, circumcision, conservation, delhi, diving, drought, economy, emerging nations, environment, festival, fishing, food, ft dauphin, gear, havelock, health, hiv, holiday, india, island, journalism, kenya, kibera, kisumu, lemur, maasai mara, madagascar, market, motorcycle, multimedia, mumbai, nairobi, party, photography, port blair, poverty, preparation, shenanigans, shopping, thailand, tourism, travel, wildlife
I may be ’stuck’ in southeast Asia
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under notes
Anyone contemplating a visit in the next year should probably pay attention. There has been an official hiccup in visa rules, meaning I may need to leave the country for longer than planned this spring.
Essentially, after it was revealed that alleged terrorist conspirator David Headley had stayed in India long-term on a tourist visa, the Indian government has cracked down. Under previous rules, with the five-year tourist visa I currently hold, I could stay in the country for up to six months at a time and leave even for one day to “reset” my visa clock. Hence, my week booked in Thailand beginning March 31.
However, under the new rules, I have to leave for at least two months. This means that instead of returning to India from Thailand, and heading to Sikkim to teach English at a volunteer-supported school, I would be “stuck” in Thailand. And the Thai tourist visa is typically valid for 30 days, meaning I would need to move somewhere else.
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Tags: beach, holiday, india, island, ministry of home affairs, oci, overseas citizen of india, preparation, shenanigans, stupidity, thailand, tourism, travel, visa
What can you do with 100 Ariary?
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under notes, photography
A gangster roll, but only $300
Madagascar’s currency is a mind-trip. Inflation (and I’m guessing poor central banking) has left large denominations mostly meaningless. At the airport in Tana on Wednesday, $1 was just shy of 2,000 ariary. The largest bill I’ve seen is a 5000 AR note. Do the math ($2.50).
Though my airfare was astronomical ($700 for the roundtrip from Nairobi to Tana and $425 for the roundtrip from Tana to Ft. Dauphin), prices on the ground are relatively cheap.
A coffee is between 50 cents and a $1.50. A 500 ml beer of Gold (the upscale brand that is actually not bad for a lager) is between $1.50 and $2.50.
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Tags: antananarivo, ariary, beer, coffee, currency, madagascar, thailand, travel
Come visit. Seriously.
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under notes
I’ve had many questions about visiting me while I’m out and about. My answer: Absolutely.
In no particular order, I’m calling out people who ought to make an appearance during my time abroad (some of you have at least expressed the interest): MattLord, Ariane, Joel/Kate, Solana, Supriya/Dan, Meghan/Emily, Colleen, Mel/Dale, Kate (the Hammer), Bethany, Blythe.
And you!
(If my mother, sister and brother-in-law can do it with the one-year-old Ravi in tow, surely you can.)
But seriously, if you’re interested, e-mail me. Also keep these considerations in mind:
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Tags: india, journalism, port blair, shenanigans, thailand, travel
Itinerary for the next year or so
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under notes
My itinerary is still a bit up in the air. I’m trying to be flexible on purpose, but here’s the basic rundown, if the dates as a little (or a lot) squishy.
- September 3. Fly Chicago to New York to Dubai to Nairobi. I’ll have a couple weeks in and around the Kenyan capital playing with Shannon, adjusting and touring/chatting/shooting in the slums of Kibera.
- Approximately September 20. Fly/overland to Dar es Salaam. I’ll be checking out on a number of conservation projects that will take me across the border into Tanzania and eventually the coastal city.
- Approximately October 1. Fly to Antananarivo. Madagascar sits at the top of my Places to Visit list (after I knocked off Cuba this spring) and I plan visits to plant science and conservation efforts as well as fun-time with lemurs, butterflies and maybe a titanium mine.
- Approximately October 11. Head back to Nairobi. Finish up leftovers; possibly head east to Mombasa for a few days or west to Kisumu. Also contemplating a trip up north near the border with Somalia.
- October 21. Fly to Bombay. Begin visits related to U.S. companies there; planning efforts re: Monsanto, Anheuser-Busch and others. Also planning an early trip to Delhi.
- November 27. Train to Palolem, a tiny beach village in India. R&R.
- December 5. Back to Pune for a family visit. Mom, Anna, Riley and Ravi are planning a stop.
- Approximately December 14. Begin winding trip to Port Blair in the Andamans for five year anniversary of crushing tsunami. Hoping for an ocean voyage and crazy good beach and journalism scenes.
- Approximately January 10. Return to Pune area to pick up on previous visits with U.S. companies.
- April 1. Fly to Bangkok to eat food. Possibly take a few days down to Phuket.
- April 9. Return to Bombay. Begin trek up to Sikkim.
- April 14. Volunteer teaching at small elementary school in Sikkim, a northern part of India sandwiched between Nepal and Bhutan.
- June 14. Head back south for monsoons in central India. Evaluate bank account and goals.
Tags: antananarivo, dar es salaam, food, india, kenya, kibera, madagascar, multimedia, nairobi, port blair, preparation, sikkim, tanzania, thailand
One month to go
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under gear, notes
I have one month left in the United States. I officially moved out of the apartment and into Joel’s house (temporarily) Friday. The weekend was filled with fishing and peaches and relaxing.
Now, it’s back to work. My to do list for the remaining days (not including substantial play time and peach eating):
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Tags: gear, india, journalism, kenya, multimedia, preparation, sikkim, thailand
Ahhh! A new blog?!?!?
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under notes
Do I look like someone who would instantly have the blog all together?
I’m in the process of turning this blog on. Cut me some slack.
I’m still working on tweaking the CSS; if anyone has suggestions about style, design, etc., I’d be glad to hear them.
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Tags: india, journalism, kenya, multimedia, photography, preparation, thailand, travel
