Go Goa

 I went and ran the Goa Half Marathon.  Goa was the reason, running was the excuse.  A colleague from Goa accompanied me.  This is my third visit to Goa in the last three years.  I have always stayed in Panaji. This time near the start of the race ( Campal Grounds) at Viva Goa International.  This hotel was a bit rundown. But at one time someone lovingly had decorated it with brightly painted ceramic tiles.  Wrought iron work. The rooms were large and opened into a small balcony.   My balcony looked onto the rear of another building and it was bristling with TV dish antennae and other stuff people don’t want seen in the front.   The shower head in the bright and spacious bathroom was the size of a steering wheel.   But years of hardwater had choked it limiting the flow it to about twenty holes still open against the odds.

Hotel Viva Goa 

The run was good.  Started at 6:00 am. I loved running on the causeway to old Goa as daylight broke.  Mangroves along the bank.  Early birds heading out over the river. On these predawn runs I hear bird cries and song. Crows sometimes dominate mixed with the sound of footfalls and breathing.  The light changes ever so subtly over the water.  Pink and orange streaks, blue greys, misty whites all evaporate as the sun comes up.  Even in early Feb the sun is harsh by 8:30 am.  21.2 km in 2 hours fifteen.

State Bank of India, Mandovi.

 After the race I had breakfast with my colleague who had run the 5 km “Dream run”.  In the afternoon I wandered around Panjim market,  Fontainhas,  and along Mandovi river.  At about 2:00pm took a break at Mandovi Hotel.  Sat and drew the bright blue colored building that houses the State Bank of India across from it.

Nice trip.  Later that evening met a schoolmate and his wife after many years.  We attended a monthly Quiz at the International Center where I have stayed on my past visits.  It was a lot of fun.  At about 8:30pm went back to Panaji Bus Stand and took a “Sleeper” bus. We reached Pune early next morning.

Paddle boat casino on the Mandovi river.

Monday morning you looked so fine...

While there were no posts, there was a lot of drawing going on.  I traveled to Hyderabad on work, and then immediately went on vacation.  These drawings were done on the flight back and forth.  What is of interest is the perspective mess up in my head when I look to draw.  The airplane insides are full of challenges, curved walls, with intricate repetitive seats and other paraphernalia.  And the airports, given regular delays, ensure my subjects stay in front for long periods while twisting and turning in their place.

Ahab Flex pen with Noodlers permanent black. Koi waterbrush

Exorcise the confusion

Spent two days at a "Chief learning Officer Summit" in Mumbai last month.  We didn't have a booth and I was attending a few sessions.  The "take away" was that Indian companies need thousands of employees to sustain growth and that the potential employees are just not skill-capable to do almost anything.  Hence employers need to train the ungroomed and incapable masses that the Indian School systems churn out.   This unhappy task belongs to the Chief Learning Officer.

I drew the horrified onlookers as every speaker drew a gloomy picture of his or her challenges that he or she then overcame triumphantly.  It was great drawing people who seemed transfixed and held their poses.
There was a lot of "Nurturing", "Mentoring", and "Leadership inculcation" mentioned.   Further, assorted "Aspirational" motives of the aforementioned ungroomed and incapable youthful masses were also identified.  Good lord.

Drew these with a Ahab Noodlers Flex pen, a new yellow one.  I lost my older one the day I met Matt Groening ( Creator of the "Simpsons").  I met Matt Groening at the INK conference in Pune.( !!) Noodlers Bulletproof black ink and a Sakura Koi waterbrush.

Ink and pen and paper

It has been awhile since I went out and drew.  I just inked this tonight to mitigate the guilt.  The old city has some strange structures. This one was bristling antennae for a reason I could not fathom.  They didn't look like the omnipresent mobile phone towers.  And the building was a really acute slice in an angled narrow lane.  And the dark rain stains that dominate all Indian architecture.
Was listening to "Miles runs down the voodoo".  14 minutes of driving bass with Miles trumpet on top. Most excellent.  And then "Jean Pierre".  It was one of those "Essential" music albums that I never thought I would buy but that's what you get in music stores in India currently. Compilations, "Best of's", and other selections " Dance Party XXX".  I also possess "Essential Bruce Springsteen".  You can order stuff on-line now but browsing for music is always nice.

Six Blade Knife, do anything for you.

"..Do anything you want it to. One blade breaking my heart.
One blade tearing me apart."

Today was Ganesh Chaturthi. First day of the Ganesh festival.  Took the day off.  In the afternoon went to the  old city to draw and look at festivities. Found this stone facade that was quite ornate.  "Nagarkar "Dagdi" ( stone) wada".  This doorway encloses a traditional courtyard and homes around it in a contained neighbourhood called a "wada".  The colorful banners line this really narrow street in Budhwar Peth.  Close to Appa balwant Chowk.

Started a new sketchbook.  Also found my "Legend" CD.  And heard my "Dire Straits: Dire Straits" a few times over on my drive to a  trek to Visapur this weekend.  "Six Blade knife".  The whole album is so laid back and great to hear.

High Sierra

Watching Humphrey Bogart as I finished inking and coloring this.  This is one "machine" from an astronomical observatory in the middle of New Delhi.  It was built around 1700's by the Maharajah of Jaipur. I was on my way to a meeting near the Indian Parliament house. The largest democracy in the world debates and passes bills and legislature there.   It rained suddenly and I waited under a Frangipani tree full of white blossoms.  I stood and drew with a pencil and then inked the outline.   Not too much smudging despite the rain.   It was very gratifying to draw it there.  You notice so much more than when just taking a picture.

In the shuffling madness

This is Martin Bradburn.  I like Sebastian Kruger's art, his focus is rock musicians, the Rolling Stones in particular.  I was tempted to draw some but then thought maybe I should start close to me with musicians I knew and liked (ok, not really liked).  This glowering person does not usually play bass.  Nor does he usually glower.  However, I liked this picture because of the lizards and his focus.  His lovely wife may disagree about the likeness but its what it is.  ( If it is really objectionable, Ill take it down !).  He and Wayne are part of MeccaLilly, a Rhode Island redneck banjo playing outfit that will make you squeal.