Activity coming soon! (in .in)

(originally titled “Action coming soon,” but Saqib thought that _I’m_ doing some new initiatives, so changed.. it’s really more of a Mass Update #1, This post mostly written weeks ago..)

So, I’ve done a couple of things now. I’ve got the contact info for the 2 YHA Hostels (one official, the other not so sure!), got in contact with a few trekking organizations (Get off Ur Ass, Ozone India, Kalypso Adventures, Kali Rafting, & Empowercamp.com), emailled a few friends, Anand Bemra and Venkatesh Murthy, who were really involved with HSS in the US, to get some ideas on what I could do in terms of service (and will no doubt be connected into Sangh ^[1] ). Possibly not surprisingly, Venkatesh has only been in Bangalore for 6 months, and has ALREADY started a new project! It’s called Youth for Seva, and its intent is to see volunteerism among India’s youth similar to what is seen in the US. I also emailled another friend (Niket Sirsi) to get some ideas of what to do in terms of adventuring.. Sounds busy huh? Not exactly a lot of work for a whole month of being here though! The wedding is of course over (see the pics) Though I didn’t get any mehendi (Henna Tattoo) done, oops. (my Mom did though! )Oh, and Monday I went out with a friend of my cousin Sridhar’s, Vijayraj, who runs Farmland Rainwater Harvesting Systems (farmlandrainwaterharvesting.com is supposed to be their site but that link doesn’t work for me..) <–Link to the pics, and this project is discussed in an article in the newspaper The Hindu! Wow, was that NOT what the focus of my (incomplete) Senior Project was?? And I just finished signing up for WWOOF Independents, formerly known as Willing Workers on Organic Farms (I guess they changed their name) online. W00t, I’m excited! It’s funny that things are different, with YHA, WWOOF, etc, in India than elsewhere, but I guess it makes sense. It also fits in with the fact that doing EVERYTHING seems different/more difficult in India than I’m used to! Makes it more exciting, I guess! I’ve also looked up the website for USAID(.gov)’s India section, I don’t know that I’ll do anything with them, but when I was researching Decentralized Wastewater on Google News (for PoliSci project), I found references to their work in Jakarta (Indonesia)’s newspaper. Even if it’s like the Peace Corps, it would be worthwhile to connect in with them, imho. I need to start being able to make connections, find resources, network, etc. Interestingly enough, my uncle (a very rich man, runs a construction firm) setups On-Site Sewage (WasteWater) Treatment at some of his developments, so he’ll give me a tour, okay done, here are some pics: . I also read an article about this guy, CB Ramkumar who has recently created an organization called FEEL, and also made a company, Our Native Village, which is a “100% eco-friendly” eco-resort. I emailled him, have to call and followup soon. WOW. You know what? Writing this blog entry ALONE has been amazing, I’ve had to find so many links (because I like to link to things!), making me realize that SO many of the resources I want are ALREADY online! Yowza! Once I add some pics, I think we can call this entry good! (As TonyV would say, “lock it in and call it good”!) More?? I’ve got to start reading the newspaper more, the Times of India had a cover story on GreenPeace India bringing attention to GMO foods, so I emailled them about volunteering and signed up for their email list. Turns out their head India office is IN Bangalore! Later a small blurb about the Centre for Green Building Materials & Technology, Bangalore, they’re organizing a “SUSTAINABLE LIVING ’07” Conference this weekend! Good thing I didn’t make any plans yet!