Tonight I played volleyball at a local park with some boys, most of them still in secondary school. I had a lot of fun, though I had no idea what was being said most of the time. They thought it was funny teaching me all the nicknames they go by. There's Snake (Pum), Horse (Goal[di]), Monkey (chimpbwho), and so on. They seem like good guys.

I've been spending a lot of time walking around. Sometimes I take my big camera, sometimes I only stick my Canon G10 point and shoot in my bag. One reason is the food here is so amazing and its been doing quick work on my metabolism. In other words, I'm gaining weight. It is no wonder that obesity is a problem in the middle and upper classes here. The picture of the door was just one thing I snapped a photo of while walking. Nothing special, but trying to stay creative. I've been listening to lectures by a great commercial photographer, Chase Jarvis, who is a huge proponent of keeping active in creating personal work for no other reason than to create. He shoots a lot just on his iPhone.

Another reason I walk is to see everything up close. When I take an auto I get to see more, but I can't study details. I really enjoy interacting with people. I think that someone could possibly find some of the people cold while walking down the street, but with a little bit of effort, they light up. I love this. One habit I learned in Uganda was to great people by raising your eyebrows. I started doing it here just out of old habits coming back when in a similar environment, and they respond to it. They're faces light up and huge smiles greet me.

I'm considering buying a motor bike. Something small, 100cc. I can get a used one for around 20,000/. or about $400. It will be good to have my own transportation. There are, of course, things I need to check into like insurance, etc. Also, I found out today that I have to find a place to live for either about 2 weeks or a month in September. I can't stay at the apartment I'm at since the family I'm staying with is going back to the States. Ah, well, something will work out.

I am looking into the possibility of moving my search for freelance work to Mumbai in the late fall or early winter. If anyone has good contacts there, let me know. I love being here in Hyderabad, but I've heard repeatedly the work I'm looking for is in Mumbai. I'm going to continue making contacts here and exploring options. I even sent out an resumé for teaching English, just so I could have some sort of income for right now.

Ah well, I love it here. I really do.