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Re: Here is something I learned....

 

No the real thing that happened was ..Eric and I talked about 25 years ago stuff last year and I forgot to tell you how I discovered how nostalgic he is


On Wed, Jun 22, 2022, 11:51 AM David E. Ford Jr. <ottoemezz@...> wrote:
to be sure i understand what's happening here, your evidence for blooms nostalgia comes from a dream you had?

all i know for sure is that eric is the kindest hearted person with whom i've ever gotten simultaneous handjobs with?


On Jun 22, 2022, at 15:27, Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:

?
Out of all of us... Every member of Dannysic. I never knew until a year ago and just remembered to share with all of you that the most nostalgic person of all of us is....

Eric Bloom

I thought it was just now because I woke up from a dream and in the dream I Zoomed with Eric before I went to bed. And he has such a sweet soul. Like Zooming with Paul Rudd. And it was a little gay.?

About the nostalgia Eric showed me some things he has saved from college. SketchUp related. One of them was a speech that he was excited to show me because I wrote it. And as I looked at it he described the whole event to me. I knew that I was never at that event and I never wrote it. We decided it was Christian who wrote it. Or somebody else.?

Maybe he doesn't have the best memory. But the point of this is that Eric has the kindest heart of all of us as far as I know. Nostalgic. Emo.?


Re: Here is something I learned....

 

开云体育

to be sure i understand what's happening here, your evidence for blooms nostalgia comes from a dream you had?

all i know for sure is that eric is the kindest hearted person with whom i've ever gotten simultaneous handjobs with?


On Jun 22, 2022, at 15:27, Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:

?
Out of all of us... Every member of Dannysic. I never knew until a year ago and just remembered to share with all of you that the most nostalgic person of all of us is....

Eric Bloom

I thought it was just now because I woke up from a dream and in the dream I Zoomed with Eric before I went to bed. And he has such a sweet soul. Like Zooming with Paul Rudd. And it was a little gay.?

About the nostalgia Eric showed me some things he has saved from college. SketchUp related. One of them was a speech that he was excited to show me because I wrote it. And as I looked at it he described the whole event to me. I knew that I was never at that event and I never wrote it. We decided it was Christian who wrote it. Or somebody else.?

Maybe he doesn't have the best memory. But the point of this is that Eric has the kindest heart of all of us as far as I know. Nostalgic. Emo.?


Here is something I learned....

 

Out of all of us... Every member of Dannysic. I never knew until a year ago and just remembered to share with all of you that the most nostalgic person of all of us is....

Eric Bloom

I thought it was just now because I woke up from a dream and in the dream I Zoomed with Eric before I went to bed. And he has such a sweet soul. Like Zooming with Paul Rudd. And it was a little gay.?

About the nostalgia Eric showed me some things he has saved from college. SketchUp related. One of them was a speech that he was excited to show me because I wrote it. And as I looked at it he described the whole event to me. I knew that I was never at that event and I never wrote it. We decided it was Christian who wrote it. Or somebody else.?

Maybe he doesn't have the best memory. But the point of this is that Eric has the kindest heart of all of us as far as I know. Nostalgic. Emo.?


Re: Happy Birthday, Changman

 

开云体育

i've always thought our system is a little dumb, that one can be age zero, but it seems to be that this korean way is common throughout asia. here when you ask someone their age they will tell you both versions?


On Jun 16, 2022, at 22:49, Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:

?
This Korean phenomenon was documented in the NYT as well as Little News Ears, the more prestigious organization. You probably know the president elect is trying to make Korean age counting like it is everywhere else?

On Thu, Jun 16, 2022, 12:17 PM Richard Chang via <rcterp=aol.com@groups.io> wrote:
thanks for the birthday wishes. what is funny about this thread is in Korea they start counting at 1, so your US birthday of 1 year, is considered to be your 2nd birthday in Korea. Maybe that is why Korea is better at math.


-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Steinberger <joe@...>
To: dannysic@groups.io
Sent: Wed, Jun 15, 2022 8:56 am
Subject: Re: [dannysic] Happy Birthday, Changman

Says the Buddhist monk to the math teacher. ?

On Wed, Jun 15, 2022 at 4:41 AM David E. Ford Jr. <ottoemezz@...> wrote:
if he was born in 1975 (were you?) it is his 48th year of life?


On Jun 15, 2022, at 04:03, Joe Steinberger <joe@...> wrote:

?
More importantly, happy flag day. But yes, happy bday, reechard. May you have a good 47th year of life. Phew.?

On Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 3:31 PM Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:
From?ALL of us, especially Andrew.



Re: Happy Birthday, Changman

 

This Korean phenomenon was documented in the NYT as well as Little News Ears, the more prestigious organization. You probably know the president elect is trying to make Korean age counting like it is everywhere else?


On Thu, Jun 16, 2022, 12:17 PM Richard Chang via <rcterp=aol.com@groups.io> wrote:
thanks for the birthday wishes. what is funny about this thread is in Korea they start counting at 1, so your US birthday of 1 year, is considered to be your 2nd birthday in Korea. Maybe that is why Korea is better at math.


-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Steinberger <joe@...>
To: dannysic@groups.io
Sent: Wed, Jun 15, 2022 8:56 am
Subject: Re: [dannysic] Happy Birthday, Changman

Says the Buddhist monk to the math teacher. ?

On Wed, Jun 15, 2022 at 4:41 AM David E. Ford Jr. <ottoemezz@...> wrote:
if he was born in 1975 (were you?) it is his 48th year of life?


On Jun 15, 2022, at 04:03, Joe Steinberger <joe@...> wrote:

?
More importantly, happy flag day. But yes, happy bday, reechard. May you have a good 47th year of life. Phew.?

On Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 3:31 PM Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:
From?ALL of us, especially Andrew.



Re: Happy Birthday, Changman

 

thanks for the birthday wishes. what is funny about this thread is in Korea they start counting at 1, so your US birthday of 1 year, is considered to be your 2nd birthday in Korea. Maybe that is why Korea is better at math.


-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Steinberger <joe@...>
To: dannysic@groups.io
Sent: Wed, Jun 15, 2022 8:56 am
Subject: Re: [dannysic] Happy Birthday, Changman

Says the Buddhist monk to the math teacher. ?

On Wed, Jun 15, 2022 at 4:41 AM David E. Ford Jr. <ottoemezz@...> wrote:
if he was born in 1975 (were you?) it is his 48th year of life?


On Jun 15, 2022, at 04:03, Joe Steinberger <joe@...> wrote:

?
More importantly, happy flag day. But yes, happy bday, reechard. May you have a good 47th year of life. Phew.?

On Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 3:31 PM Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:
From?ALL of us, especially Andrew.



Re: Happy Birthday, Changman

 

Just like cutting that pie at 8713


Re: Happy Birthday, Changman

 

Says the Buddhist monk to the math teacher. ?

On Wed, Jun 15, 2022 at 4:41 AM David E. Ford Jr. <ottoemezz@...> wrote:
if he was born in 1975 (were you?) it is his 48th year of life?


On Jun 15, 2022, at 04:03, Joe Steinberger <joe@...> wrote:

?
More importantly, happy flag day. But yes, happy bday, reechard. May you have a good 47th year of life. Phew.?

On Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 3:31 PM Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:
From?ALL of us, especially Andrew.



Re: Your 2 cents

 

So I didn't do anything extensive but the page isn't mobile friendly, so you probably want to look at fixing that since my sense is kids don't use computers as much.?


On Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 1:49 AM, Dan Buck
<vertpurple@...> wrote:
Hey there,

I'm working on a news for kids search engine and would love feedback on the results you see when you put in search terms:


It won't be called news voyage

(Ideas on names are welcome too)

Dan?


Re: Your 2 cents

 

Thank you. Just news for kids (going to all news for kids sites ..from CNN news to Little News Ears)


On Wed, Jun 15, 2022, 7:27 AM David E. Ford Jr. <ottoemezz@...> wrote:
man this is such a good fucking idea. ?i did some searches and found some good results. ?but the idea is to do any kind of research, right, not necessarily tied to current events? ?i ask because i'm thinking about a name


On Jun 14, 2022, at 11:19, Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:

?
Hey there,

I'm working on a news for kids search engine and would love feedback on the results you see when you put in search terms:


It won't be called news voyage

(Ideas on names are welcome too)

Dan?


Re: Your 2 cents

 

开云体育

man this is such a good fucking idea. ?i did some searches and found some good results. ?but the idea is to do any kind of research, right, not necessarily tied to current events? ?i ask because i'm thinking about a name


On Jun 14, 2022, at 11:19, Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:

?
Hey there,

I'm working on a news for kids search engine and would love feedback on the results you see when you put in search terms:


It won't be called news voyage

(Ideas on names are welcome too)

Dan?


Re: Happy Birthday, Changman

 

开云体育

if he was born in 1975 (were you?) it is his 48th year of life?


On Jun 15, 2022, at 04:03, Joe Steinberger <joe@...> wrote:

?
More importantly, happy flag day. But yes, happy bday, reechard. May you have a good 47th year of life. Phew.?

On Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 3:31 PM Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:
From?ALL of us, especially Andrew.



Re: Happy Birthday, Changman

 

More importantly, happy flag day. But yes, happy bday, reechard. May you have a good 47th year of life. Phew.?

On Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 3:31 PM Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:
From?ALL of us, especially Andrew.



Happy Birthday, Changman

 

From?ALL of us, especially Andrew.



Your 2 cents

 

Hey there,

I'm working on a news for kids search engine and would love feedback on the results you see when you put in search terms:


It won't be called news voyage

(Ideas on names are welcome too)

Dan?


Re: himalayan brothels

 

开云体育

Awesome update!

Please keep em coming and enjoy your journey!


From: dannysic@groups.io <dannysic@groups.io> on behalf of Joe Steinberger <joe@...>
Sent: June 7, 2022 7:12 PM
To: dannysic@groups.io <dannysic@groups.io>
Subject: Re: [dannysic] himalayan brothels
?
Prediction - you will be back there working as the chef/handyman by Friday.??

On Tue, Jun 7, 2022 at 12:32 AM David E. Ford Jr. <ottoemezz@...> wrote:
at the moment i am preparing to start on a new phase of my weird travels here in which i will spend perhaps two months in a tent in the mountains here (here is the indian state of himachal pradesh) doing a sort of retreat thst will include hindi/pahari (this is the local language, closely related to punjabi) immersion, so i can actually fucking talk to people who aren't like tourists from delhi. in this part of himachal (in mandi district, near the kangra border) i have befriended a restaurateur called kapoor who is the same age as we are. he helped me out a lot when i was up here in january and he is the one who found me land where i could set up my tent and is introducing me to all the people around so they all know me and like me and won't wonder what the fuck some weird moustachioed white man is doing traipsing around the jungle nearby, providing me with some materials like a small cook stove and gas canister and showing me how to make some dal dishes & chapatis. we really have come to genuinely like each other very much and his whole family also have embraced me, offering me places to stay all around the region free of charge and just generally helping me get by out here and not get into trouble (seriously, anywhere you are in the world, one local friend is more fucking valuable than a goddamned platinum amex). this brings me to sahil, who is kapoors 21-year old son. so kapoors family is a prosperous one for this region.? they own two restaurants now and are clearly well known and respected.? and sahil is a cool guy who was sent to an english medium school and fancy college in chandigarh, and he drives a brand new mahindra thar, which is basically a fancy luxury jeep that's jacked up real high. and he really only thinks about sex with women basically all of th time. this kid really loves me and i'm not even sure what it's about but he wants to take me everywhere and tells me things like "i simply love you" and tells me how handsome i am (stg). so yesterday, we were doing some things and he asks me "do you want to have a girl tonight?" and he has asked me questions like this before and i am always at pains to explain that that isn't how i operate, like i don't wake up and think "today i want to have sex with a woman" or, equally important, "today i do not want to have sex with a woman," but it seems difficult for him to come to terms with.? so i try to explain and he says "there is a girl i want to have sex with tonight" and will i come along with him and hang out or whatever and i'm like fine yes i'll do whatever.? then he asked to borrow a little cash, which is normal for us because i have to carry cash around but he often orders things online for me.? so anyway we go out and we're walking up this dark narrow forested path and he is telling me to keep quiet and it is only then that it dawns on me that we are going to a brothel. so we're approaching the place and he's coaching me a little just that i have to keep very quiet and if anyone asks if i want a girl just say no, not tonight, my wife is waiting for me or something.? as though i have to tell a falsehood to get out of paid sex. and we arrive at the place and there is one older man sitting on a stool at the entrance, presumably as like a guard, though his aspect wasn't in any way threatening, and then inside it's just all women.? and here in this case the most accurate thing to say is it was like a novel, because i'd never actually been in a place like that before but i have certainly encountered them in books.? several older women ranging from maybe late-30s to 60s, presumably all with a sex work background, running the place, attending to tasks, or just hanging out and chatting. none of the women there speaks any english, and my hindi is weeeeaaaak, so i was introduced to them and they brought me some water and i sat quietly on a sofa minding my business. at one point, one of the women there started saying something to me in pahari and i explained that i couldn't understand so she gestured to her pussy and then to the corridor with the sex rooms and then shrugged her shoulders, and i was just like, no thank you, i don't need to have sex tonight. and other than that they just kinda minded their business and also occasionally teased me and i must say that i felt as comfortable and at home there as i have anywhere on this trip, which was interesting but not altogether surprising.






Re: himalayan brothels

 

开云体育

also, because you gave me an official timeline i will also add that yesterday i became
utterly enamored of the idea of not knowing the day of the week?


On Jun 8, 2022, at 10:26, David E. Ford Jr. via groups.io <ottoemezz@...> wrote:

?definitely wouldn't be mad?


On Jun 8, 2022, at 04:42, Joe Steinberger <joe@...> wrote:

?
Prediction - you will be back there working as the chef/handyman by Friday.??

On Tue, Jun 7, 2022 at 12:32 AM David E. Ford Jr. <ottoemezz@...> wrote:
at the moment i am preparing to start on a new phase of my weird travels here in which i will spend perhaps two months in a tent in the mountains here (here is the indian state of himachal pradesh) doing a sort of retreat thst will include hindi/pahari (this is the local language, closely related to punjabi) immersion, so i can actually fucking talk to people who aren't like tourists from delhi. in this part of himachal (in mandi district, near the kangra border) i have befriended a restaurateur called kapoor who is the same age as we are. he helped me out a lot when i was up here in january and he is the one who found me land where i could set up my tent and is introducing me to all the people around so they all know me and like me and won't wonder what the fuck some weird moustachioed white man is doing traipsing around the jungle nearby, providing me with some materials like a small cook stove and gas canister and showing me how to make some dal dishes & chapatis. we really have come to genuinely like each other very much and his whole family also have embraced me, offering me places to stay all around the region free of charge and just generally helping me get by out here and not get into trouble (seriously, anywhere you are in the world, one local friend is more fucking valuable than a goddamned platinum amex). this brings me to sahil, who is kapoors 21-year old son. so kapoors family is a prosperous one for this region.? they own two restaurants now and are clearly well known and respected.? and sahil is a cool guy who was sent to an english medium school and fancy college in chandigarh, and he drives a brand new mahindra thar, which is basically a fancy luxury jeep that's jacked up real high. and he really only thinks about sex with women basically all of th time. this kid really loves me and i'm not even sure what it's about but he wants to take me everywhere and tells me things like "i simply love you" and tells me how handsome i am (stg). so yesterday, we were doing some things and he asks me "do you want to have a girl tonight?" and he has asked me questions like this before and i am always at pains to explain that that isn't how i operate, like i don't wake up and think "today i want to have sex with a woman" or, equally important, "today i do not want to have sex with a woman," but it seems difficult for him to come to terms with.? so i try to explain and he says "there is a girl i want to have sex with tonight" and will i come along with him and hang out or whatever and i'm like fine yes i'll do whatever.? then he asked to borrow a little cash, which is normal for us because i have to carry cash around but he often orders things online for me.? so anyway we go out and we're walking up this dark narrow forested path and he is telling me to keep quiet and it is only then that it dawns on me that we are going to a brothel. so we're approaching the place and he's coaching me a little just that i have to keep very quiet and if anyone asks if i want a girl just say no, not tonight, my wife is waiting for me or something.? as though i have to tell a falsehood to get out of paid sex. and we arrive at the place and there is one older man sitting on a stool at the entrance, presumably as like a guard, though his aspect wasn't in any way threatening, and then inside it's just all women.? and here in this case the most accurate thing to say is it was like a novel, because i'd never actually been in a place like that before but i have certainly encountered them in books.? several older women ranging from maybe late-30s to 60s, presumably all with a sex work background, running the place, attending to tasks, or just hanging out and chatting. none of the women there speaks any english, and my hindi is weeeeaaaak, so i was introduced to them and they brought me some water and i sat quietly on a sofa minding my business. at one point, one of the women there started saying something to me in pahari and i explained that i couldn't understand so she gestured to her pussy and then to the corridor with the sex rooms and then shrugged her shoulders, and i was just like, no thank you, i don't need to have sex tonight. and other than that they just kinda minded their business and also occasionally teased me and i must say that i felt as comfortable and at home there as i have anywhere on this trip, which was interesting but not altogether surprising.






Re: himalayan brothels

 

开云体育

definitely wouldn't be mad?


On Jun 8, 2022, at 04:42, Joe Steinberger <joe@...> wrote:

?
Prediction - you will be back there working as the chef/handyman by Friday.??

On Tue, Jun 7, 2022 at 12:32 AM David E. Ford Jr. <ottoemezz@...> wrote:
at the moment i am preparing to start on a new phase of my weird travels here in which i will spend perhaps two months in a tent in the mountains here (here is the indian state of himachal pradesh) doing a sort of retreat thst will include hindi/pahari (this is the local language, closely related to punjabi) immersion, so i can actually fucking talk to people who aren't like tourists from delhi. in this part of himachal (in mandi district, near the kangra border) i have befriended a restaurateur called kapoor who is the same age as we are. he helped me out a lot when i was up here in january and he is the one who found me land where i could set up my tent and is introducing me to all the people around so they all know me and like me and won't wonder what the fuck some weird moustachioed white man is doing traipsing around the jungle nearby, providing me with some materials like a small cook stove and gas canister and showing me how to make some dal dishes & chapatis. we really have come to genuinely like each other very much and his whole family also have embraced me, offering me places to stay all around the region free of charge and just generally helping me get by out here and not get into trouble (seriously, anywhere you are in the world, one local friend is more fucking valuable than a goddamned platinum amex). this brings me to sahil, who is kapoors 21-year old son. so kapoors family is a prosperous one for this region.? they own two restaurants now and are clearly well known and respected.? and sahil is a cool guy who was sent to an english medium school and fancy college in chandigarh, and he drives a brand new mahindra thar, which is basically a fancy luxury jeep that's jacked up real high. and he really only thinks about sex with women basically all of th time. this kid really loves me and i'm not even sure what it's about but he wants to take me everywhere and tells me things like "i simply love you" and tells me how handsome i am (stg). so yesterday, we were doing some things and he asks me "do you want to have a girl tonight?" and he has asked me questions like this before and i am always at pains to explain that that isn't how i operate, like i don't wake up and think "today i want to have sex with a woman" or, equally important, "today i do not want to have sex with a woman," but it seems difficult for him to come to terms with.? so i try to explain and he says "there is a girl i want to have sex with tonight" and will i come along with him and hang out or whatever and i'm like fine yes i'll do whatever.? then he asked to borrow a little cash, which is normal for us because i have to carry cash around but he often orders things online for me.? so anyway we go out and we're walking up this dark narrow forested path and he is telling me to keep quiet and it is only then that it dawns on me that we are going to a brothel. so we're approaching the place and he's coaching me a little just that i have to keep very quiet and if anyone asks if i want a girl just say no, not tonight, my wife is waiting for me or something.? as though i have to tell a falsehood to get out of paid sex. and we arrive at the place and there is one older man sitting on a stool at the entrance, presumably as like a guard, though his aspect wasn't in any way threatening, and then inside it's just all women.? and here in this case the most accurate thing to say is it was like a novel, because i'd never actually been in a place like that before but i have certainly encountered them in books.? several older women ranging from maybe late-30s to 60s, presumably all with a sex work background, running the place, attending to tasks, or just hanging out and chatting. none of the women there speaks any english, and my hindi is weeeeaaaak, so i was introduced to them and they brought me some water and i sat quietly on a sofa minding my business. at one point, one of the women there started saying something to me in pahari and i explained that i couldn't understand so she gestured to her pussy and then to the corridor with the sex rooms and then shrugged her shoulders, and i was just like, no thank you, i don't need to have sex tonight. and other than that they just kinda minded their business and also occasionally teased me and i must say that i felt as comfortable and at home there as i have anywhere on this trip, which was interesting but not altogether surprising.






Re: himalayan brothels

 

Prediction - you will be back there working as the chef/handyman by Friday.??


On Tue, Jun 7, 2022 at 12:32 AM David E. Ford Jr. <ottoemezz@...> wrote:
at the moment i am preparing to start on a new phase of my weird travels here in which i will spend perhaps two months in a tent in the mountains here (here is the indian state of himachal pradesh) doing a sort of retreat thst will include hindi/pahari (this is the local language, closely related to punjabi) immersion, so i can actually fucking talk to people who aren't like tourists from delhi. in this part of himachal (in mandi district, near the kangra border) i have befriended a restaurateur called kapoor who is the same age as we are. he helped me out a lot when i was up here in january and he is the one who found me land where i could set up my tent and is introducing me to all the people around so they all know me and like me and won't wonder what the fuck some weird moustachioed white man is doing traipsing around the jungle nearby, providing me with some materials like a small cook stove and gas canister and showing me how to make some dal dishes & chapatis. we really have come to genuinely like each other very much and his whole family also have embraced me, offering me places to stay all around the region free of charge and just generally helping me get by out here and not get into trouble (seriously, anywhere you are in the world, one local friend is more fucking valuable than a goddamned platinum amex). this brings me to sahil, who is kapoors 21-year old son. so kapoors family is a prosperous one for this region.? they own two restaurants now and are clearly well known and respected.? and sahil is a cool guy who was sent to an english medium school and fancy college in chandigarh, and he drives a brand new mahindra thar, which is basically a fancy luxury jeep that's jacked up real high. and he really only thinks about sex with women basically all of th time. this kid really loves me and i'm not even sure what it's about but he wants to take me everywhere and tells me things like "i simply love you" and tells me how handsome i am (stg). so yesterday, we were doing some things and he asks me "do you want to have a girl tonight?" and he has asked me questions like this before and i am always at pains to explain that that isn't how i operate, like i don't wake up and think "today i want to have sex with a woman" or, equally important, "today i do not want to have sex with a woman," but it seems difficult for him to come to terms with.? so i try to explain and he says "there is a girl i want to have sex with tonight" and will i come along with him and hang out or whatever and i'm like fine yes i'll do whatever.? then he asked to borrow a little cash, which is normal for us because i have to carry cash around but he often orders things online for me.? so anyway we go out and we're walking up this dark narrow forested path and he is telling me to keep quiet and it is only then that it dawns on me that we are going to a brothel. so we're approaching the place and he's coaching me a little just that i have to keep very quiet and if anyone asks if i want a girl just say no, not tonight, my wife is waiting for me or something.? as though i have to tell a falsehood to get out of paid sex. and we arrive at the place and there is one older man sitting on a stool at the entrance, presumably as like a guard, though his aspect wasn't in any way threatening, and then inside it's just all women.? and here in this case the most accurate thing to say is it was like a novel, because i'd never actually been in a place like that before but i have certainly encountered them in books.? several older women ranging from maybe late-30s to 60s, presumably all with a sex work background, running the place, attending to tasks, or just hanging out and chatting. none of the women there speaks any english, and my hindi is weeeeaaaak, so i was introduced to them and they brought me some water and i sat quietly on a sofa minding my business. at one point, one of the women there started saying something to me in pahari and i explained that i couldn't understand so she gestured to her pussy and then to the corridor with the sex rooms and then shrugged her shoulders, and i was just like, no thank you, i don't need to have sex tonight. and other than that they just kinda minded their business and also occasionally teased me and i must say that i felt as comfortable and at home there as i have anywhere on this trip, which was interesting but not altogether surprising.






himalayan brothels

 

at the moment i am preparing to start on a new phase of my weird travels here in which i will spend perhaps two months in a tent in the mountains here (here is the indian state of himachal pradesh) doing a sort of retreat thst will include hindi/pahari (this is the local language, closely related to punjabi) immersion, so i can actually fucking talk to people who aren't like tourists from delhi. in this part of himachal (in mandi district, near the kangra border) i have befriended a restaurateur called kapoor who is the same age as we are. he helped me out a lot when i was up here in january and he is the one who found me land where i could set up my tent and is introducing me to all the people around so they all know me and like me and won't wonder what the fuck some weird moustachioed white man is doing traipsing around the jungle nearby, providing me with some materials like a small cook stove and gas canister and showing me how to make some dal dishes & chapatis. we really have come to genuinely like each other very much and his whole family also have embraced me, offering me places to stay all around the region free of charge and just generally helping me get by out here and not get into trouble (seriously, anywhere you are in the world, one local friend is more fucking valuable than a goddamned platinum amex). this brings me to sahil, who is kapoors 21-year old son. so kapoors family is a prosperous one for this region. they own two restaurants now and are clearly well known and respected. and sahil is a cool guy who was sent to an english medium school and fancy college in chandigarh, and he drives a brand new mahindra thar, which is basically a fancy luxury jeep that's jacked up real high. and he really only thinks about sex with women basically all of th time. this kid really loves me and i'm not even sure what it's about but he wants to take me everywhere and tells me things like "i simply love you" and tells me how handsome i am (stg). so yesterday, we were doing some things and he asks me "do you want to have a girl tonight?" and he has asked me questions like this before and i am always at pains to explain that that isn't how i operate, like i don't wake up and think "today i want to have sex with a woman" or, equally important, "today i do not want to have sex with a woman," but it seems difficult for him to come to terms with. so i try to explain and he says "there is a girl i want to have sex with tonight" and will i come along with him and hang out or whatever and i'm like fine yes i'll do whatever. then he asked to borrow a little cash, which is normal for us because i have to carry cash around but he often orders things online for me. so anyway we go out and we're walking up this dark narrow forested path and he is telling me to keep quiet and it is only then that it dawns on me that we are going to a brothel. so we're approaching the place and he's coaching me a little just that i have to keep very quiet and if anyone asks if i want a girl just say no, not tonight, my wife is waiting for me or something. as though i have to tell a falsehood to get out of paid sex. and we arrive at the place and there is one older man sitting on a stool at the entrance, presumably as like a guard, though his aspect wasn't in any way threatening, and then inside it's just all women. and here in this case the most accurate thing to say is it was like a novel, because i'd never actually been in a place like that before but i have certainly encountered them in books. several older women ranging from maybe late-30s to 60s, presumably all with a sex work background, running the place, attending to tasks, or just hanging out and chatting. none of the women there speaks any english, and my hindi is weeeeaaaak, so i was introduced to them and they brought me some water and i sat quietly on a sofa minding my business. at one point, one of the women there started saying something to me in pahari and i explained that i couldn't understand so she gestured to her pussy and then to the corridor with the sex rooms and then shrugged her shoulders, and i was just like, no thank you, i don't need to have sex tonight. and other than that they just kinda minded their business and also occasionally teased me and i must say that i felt as comfortable and at home there as i have anywhere on this trip, which was interesting but not altogether surprising.