In the media: Hitchhikers guide to rural India's needs

January 23, 2011 Only now we discovered that the last part of the three part series about tghf has already been published here quite some time ago, on December 25. It's kind of funny to read this article one month later and still being stuck in Mumbai. But what's time anyway?? The concept of marking time is such a normal thing and yet, it still seems a strange one to me every now and then. What is time?? Why do we measure it?? How would life be if we couldn't refer to something as having happened yesterday or as about to happen tomorrow?? (Interestingly, the words for tomorrow and yesterday are the same in Hindi 'kal'. They can only be distinguished by their context.) According to Wikipedia 'time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects.' Further down in this definition it states 'An operational definition of time, wherein one says that observing a certain number of repetitions of one or another standard cyclical event (such as the passage of a free-swinging pendulum) constitutes one standard unit such as the second, is highly useful in the conduct of both advanced experiments and everyday affairs of life.' Everyday affairs of life can be measured like that, compared, judged... You can make out a 'delay' or the opposite, something happening 'on time'. Like our plan to start our journey on December 15, 2010. By that measure, we're 1,5 month late. But late for what?? In the context of what?? Have we not progressed because of our missing this 'deadline'?? Gosh, sometimes it drives me crazy when I start using language more consciously. What are we doing to ourselves, I ask myself at such moments? We produce so much pressure, raise so many unnecessary expectations, create irrelevant havoc for ourselves and others. And all of that for what??? Whilst my German mind still argues with Chronos, the numeric, chronological time with its 'time is money' grimace, India (and Kalyan) teach me the art of Kairos, the 'right or the opportune moment'. Quality versus quantity… And so the days and weeks pass by whilst our friends get used to seeing us again after having announced yet another day of departure. Illness, missing parts, unfinished business, more illness, parts still missing. A tiring game at times for a German mind but a wonderful and rewarding one when even I can let go and enjoy what's right in the moment… And now, it seems, the right moment to get back onto our bikes has arrived after all. Bombay will see us leaving, the NH222 is awaiting us and getting back into the countryside will be a welcome change. Thanks to everyone hosting us over these past weeks ever so gracefully, calming my restless mind ever so patiently and leaving no doubt that whatever we do (and when), you guys are there for us without fail!! Links: To see where we're headed at any time, click on our Journey Map. For your chance to win the Ortlieb cycling bags (only 3 days to go), click here To read the article in the Alternative Online, click here.