Dear Michelle,
This a very normal thing in Spain, Italy etc. but I noticed the British upper lip refuse to accept as a token of friendship. Well good for them - If they are carrying any kind of infection the world at large is safe !!.The time I tried to give a peck was just beacse she was very nice and polite. If I had to by looks I would have run or sprinted all the way to India!!! I met up with some spanish girls as the security and when I told them about my "kissing : "experience" - they had a blast but thanks to that they became good friends of mine!!
I will remember nver to hug a English woman or a man - let alone give a peck of a kiss on either cheek when you are introduced or meet and do the same when you leave. We never use the word "good bye" in spanish as it is not considered to be friendly - its always see you later, see you in a few hours, see yo tomorrw etc.
But.... Ha! lets meet up ad see how you could refuse me. I am very huggable and kissable and have had lot of practise. So I am keeping only that part open forgetting about the rest of the Bristsh.
Lots and lots of love and xxxxxxxx

Hi guys, Been reading your posting and am wondering how do I address people in India as up to now only spoken with other tourists when in India.
I would normally shake their hand be it a man or a woman but I do that mainly because I caanot get the words out quick enough like "good evening or Hey or Hi.
I have made a quick desision to visit a friend of mine in Delhi I arrive there on his birthday 8th Sept for 9 days.
I am also very worried about what I am going to eat when going out as my mouth is still far from OK and sore right now.
Does anyone think it would be wise for me to go for vegatarian dishes as I presume they will not be as strong or hot as meat curries.
Would you belive that the menus on the plane are all curries both ways
I cannot even take food with me as I normally do as they will not let you now.
I have contacted Ananth and I do hope to meet him and hopefully Ananth will be my tour guide, It would be just great to meet him and his wife Sonya as we have been emailing each other for some time now.
Any suggestions of food to eat whilst in India would be gratefully recieved.

cheers

Paul

Hello Everyone
I/we have been out of the loop for a few days. Poor Trevor is really not well (as expected) and time is just disappearing before my eyes.
Wow! There are so many posts to catch up on. That's great.
Alan, you will be away by now and having yourself a lovely holiday I hope. Love the sound of your dog ~ she sounds rather like our son's dog Misty who came from the pound, is rather nervy and head over heels in love with Jack. She pines for him something terrible. Pearl detests her (just because Pearl is Pearl) and uses up so much energy trying to let Misty know that she is top dog! It's funny (pathetic, but funny). Look forward to seeing the pics when you get back.
Hey Ananth!
You're steaming up the screen a bit with all this kissing talk! I was a bit shocked to hear that I'm reading you with the wrong accent. Are you sure? Really sure, you don't have an Indian accent? I won't be able to stop reading that way because that is the tone I get from your words.
It's so hard for me to imagine all of the history and age of your country and England. We are so new down here and just don't have the ancient heritage of the northern hemisphere. It all sounds great and I can't wait to see your 'tours'.
Hi Paul
It's good to see your posts and great to read that you have a nice holiday coming up. All this travelling sounds so easy to those of you up the top of the world.
Your picture was Trevor's and my first contact with the site, Paul so even though I've not 'spoken' to you before, I feel that I've known you for a while now. Your story was the first Trevor and I came across.
I hope you're well ( must be I guess if you are off on hols).
Have a great holiday and don't let Ananth lead you astray!!!!
Hi Chelle
I've been thinking of you often since I read your post last week (?) re your blood clot. I hope all is well and that you're feeling great. Know we are thinking of you.
Love to you all
Deborah

Hi Deborah,
We missed you ( I miss all the women!!) and we are so happy to have you back ( I hve to say all these things - you know society and all that!!). It was really good to hear about Trev birthday and you must have read the wishes I have already sent.
Our world travels began pretty well Alan took us around, Michelle took us to some plains and old buildings ( just old stuff, she says are ruins!!. So - its upto you to start off on down under ( by the way - out of curiosity - id you know that when water drains out from a sink - its sinks out in a anticlockwise twirl compared to a clock wise twirl in the rest of the word?.
Actually Deborah - each one forms an opinion of another person because of the country they come from. As I normally see Aussie as really pretty and love their accents ( and trust me I know a lots of Aussie girls!!). My accent, though I am of Indian origin was never really typically Indian as we spoke only the Queens english at my home as my father was in the Army and that was the army lingo and then after I left India at such a youg age - the I developed a totally new and wierd accent - a cross between English and Spanish and found none could understand me!!
It took some time but then managed to control my thoughts to split the two langauges. I do get a lot of wierd looks here as people are not sure in what langauge they should speak to me!
However, just for you - carry on Ananth... with a Hindi accent and start every sentence with an AIH AIH HO - which means now what!!!.
I am glad Paul is planning to come to India as it will give us both a chance to meet and talk. No - no leading anyone astray - I promise I will behave myself. I only hope he speaks to his doctor about all the pros and cons of getting on such a long haul flight.
...and Deborah - how come you have not spoken about my snaps? I know you are going to say there are not any - they are there on Ananth's story. Most of them are post cancer except a few which were taken in Mexico just a week or two before diagnoses! When I see those snaps ( the special ones I hve hidden away, makes me wish I never had been to the doctor for any kind of biopsy or check up. Life was a bit too kind to me and guess that was just to make me happy before the storm started! - I think I have made up for it here!
Write soon as its really great to hear your posts. I would love to keep going back to your country but thinking about a 30 hour journey, with a stop over makes me shudder!
Do wish Trev - all the very best on this special day - which is still on in India but just over down under!
Love,
Ananth

Hi Ananth
You'll have to wait until I can think clearly before I set off on our Tour Down Under (you won't even need a bicycle, unlike the other more famous Tour Down Under). I don't think I'll be able to do the whole picture thing though because of my inability with technology.
By the way ~ I knew all about the water down the plug thing. At a very early age we are taught about the top end of the world doing things in strange ways!
You know Ananth it's a wonder you don't have an identity crisis. So many countries, so many languages! How do you know who/what you are from one day to the next? You're a real mixed bag, aren't you.
I think it was today that Paul was heading to Delhi. Have I got that right? I guess you two will be out painting the town red sometime real soon. Hope you have a blast.
I have not spoken of your snaps Ananth because I was lost for words! Here I was thinking you looked like Tom Cruise (like your ID pic with your posts) and it turns out you're some hunk from uptown Delhi! See, you've even got me confused as to just who is this Ananth? Only joking of course and thought your pics were beaut.
Take care
Deborah

HI Deborah, Ananth and guys, Unfortunatly my mouth has not been good this week swollen up due to my rotting teeth, Went to maxfax today and he suggested not going to Delhi so I am very dissapointed so will Ananth be as we were looking foreward to meeting in person.
I would have got there Sat am on my friends birthday so its a letdown for him too.
Well I live to fight and a flight another day

see yer guys

Paul

Dear Deborah,
I somehow feel you really hit the nail on its head. I really do have an identity crisis and have had it for a long time. Though I am Indian by birth - I can hardly speak our mother tongue - Hindi and have never tried writing or reading it. I preferred to do French in school in lieu of Hindi which i know I would have never got through. All my siblings and parents have always spoken in English with us and hence it is what became our mother tongue.
Somehow, I was born very different from the my two other brothers and sister - my thinking process was extremely more wider and would not look at life just from one angle. Almost everyone in the family feels that I was born with a golden spoon in my mouth as almost everything I did - did it with a lot of determination and risk. The opportunities came my way in abundance and I took them.My parents would always mutter that I was the only one who did not have to slog to achieve something and that in turn used to make me really feel bad for my siblings, who I would studying really hard for all their exams. I was lucky that I could just read my books once and could retain everything and studies were never a problem. I sinished high school as a very young age - just 14 years old and then had completed my University majoring in Business and Commerce by the time I was 17.Can you imagine I never did like these subjects but only did them because all my friends were into them. I completed my MBA in international marketing at an age where most start their MBA and was fully qualified by the time I was 21. This gave me time to see the world and I spent a good two years travelling all over the globe. Spanish was and is very special to me. I feel a bond for the Country thats very hard to describe - but I always think of it as home. I guess it was my age which got me thinking to way I do - I was just 17 when I landed in Spain and had one heck of a time as I had no idea about Spanish and no friends who could speak English. I had to study Spanish first and I did on a one on one basis where my teacher could not speak a word of English and I was made to have breakfast and lunch with him and eight hours of study six days a week and for one full year. I realised how fluent I had become when I was in hospital fo an appendix operation and on coming out of GA - I asked for water in Spanish and not English. I had been brainwashed. University brought around the other langauges and I made some great friends from all over the globe with who would inteact in their langauge. It was a lovely experience. Then came along a day when I was walking down the Ramblas in Barcelona ( I had hair upto my waist and was walking bare chested), when I found this guy following me around. I found that he would keep staring at me and finally he came upto me and saked me if I was a model. I replied in the negative and then he asked me if I would like to be one. I had no idea as to who he was and what was I supposed to do. Being the risk taker I agreed and I found myself hitting the gym at a very pacy way and getting some muscles which i never knew existed. He then got me into doing aerobics and I would feel pretty stupid but then I managed to go through with that too. Finally the grooming - my hair styled but left really long - some great clothes which were a great fit and I ws ready to walk the ramp for the first winter fashion show in Milan. I walked the ramp in Milan, Paris and Barcelona and also did a lot of stills. I continued with my modelling for a very long time as it was a very paying proposition and especially when I found out who the person who put me through all this was - our great designer - Valentino. I had to give up my modelling once I got married as my wife put her foot down.
One thing I have and which noone can take away from me is the fantastic life I have led and I have truly been a citizen of the world and not just India and Spain. I am lucky that I got educated in the very best of institutons, got recognition beyond my expectations. I used to really take my health very seriously and my work outs were always regular and for that matter even today I work out for an hour at the gym and run a good 4 km every morning. Its tough but I just do it ( Nike told me to say that!). I cannot complain about my life and hence I cannot complain about my cancer. All the good things happened to me and I never once asked why - all this was happening to me alone and now I find no reason why I should ask why did I get cancer ( a saying by Athur Ashe on winning the Wimbeldon). The photos you see on the site are recent and not before the cancer struck and then the fetish for modelling for snaps was always there. A problem I face here is that I do not dress up as all Indians do - and a lot of people refuse to believe that I am Indian. I have people using abusive langauge on me in Hindi, thinking I would not understand and I used to have a great laugh when I gave them a shock by speaking to them in Hindi!
Paul has deffered his trip and thats not been a nice change in plans as was looking forward to meeting him in person and showing him around Anyway - there will be another time.
I really wish each one of you'll could make a trip down to India as though I am not an Indian by heart - I am however by birth and some of the things we have here are unimaginable - The Taj Mahal , the two red forts, the various emprors tombs, the temples - some made in pure gold. Its really worth a visit but one must remember - you could spend all your life in India and still not see everything that India has to offer and I believe that.
Tell Trev - he better get up and get set for a trip to India. You both will be looked after really well.
Boy - that was some story of my life in short and I have been barred from writing my biography by my mum. She says there will be a lot of broken homes, divorces and some back lashes if I do so!!! I agreed with her and stopped my writing - so all my secrets will remain withen me and everyone will be safe.
Like I said I really miss my trips to your lovely Country and remember all the wonderful times I have spent there (I have not been to a single casino!!). Anyway - all things have to come to an end and in my case it came a little earlier then anticipated but at least after I had done everything I wanted to do and i never ever lie!!!! I have always called a spade a spade and thats it.
However for now wish Trev all the very very best from this part of the world where the water goes down clockwise and lots and lots of love to you.
Ananth

Hi Ananth, Always great to read your writings.
I too feel I had a good life and nothing to go back for but when I say to people "I have had my life"
What do I mean/
Well the C has made sure I slow down to a snails pace and my self esteem gone for ever.Have not really lived the high life but seen most of the world I want to see except more of India which I love.
Goa specially I like so much as the sea has something thats makes me feel so calm and content.
My orignal plan was to goto Goa and open a Restaurant with friend of mine when I was 45 yo but this obviously was shelved when th C came in 01.
Keep writing Ananth love your true life stories

Paul

Dear Paul,
You have always been a dear friend and I have always enjoyed chatting with you. As I have mentioned earlier - there is no reason to loose your self esteem in any way - in fact you should be the one with "the attitude". Its kike saying -" anyone can rule the world as I care a damn - just get out of my face!" That is attitude and along comes everything else with it ( self esteem etc.)
You know me well enough to have realised that I do have an attitude ( though not with anyone here) and a massive ego. I have never ever accepted at being just good at anything I have done. It was the best or nothing - but never anything in between.
The moment you believe in yourself and consider yourself as the best - you are creating an aura around you that noone can enter. The aura is where your self esteem and every thing potitive is. Its upto to you to get into that aura and take life in your own hands and not worry. Everything has a begining and everything has a life span - thats the way of the world and will never change. Do you imagine I really want to die? If I was hale and hearty -without the peg tube and the tracheostomy in my throat, I would have made every attempt to fight harder even this time - but I am no longer a perfect person and something I cannot accept of myself. Its best to go away and return once again with the perfection traits I always had.
Take care,
Ananth

How come noone has anything interesting to do something different???
Lots of love to all,
Ananth

Hi Ananth
You haven't been paying attention because some of us have been doing something different this very day.
Best you check the postings and have your say ......
Deborah

Hi Deborah,

Guess I must have thinking of some place or thing when I put down that post. I love to read all the posts as it really livens up my day.
Lots of love,xxx and hugs,
Ananth

Dear Anath,
I was trying to post some news about my brother who has recently been given a "bill of health" and I stumbled upon your site. Wow, what a marvelous idea. I am a journalist here in Hollywood, California and I work on a college magazine and newspaper. My brother didn't want to join your web-site as he was too sick and depressed when I first asked him. Now he is wants to share his experiences and progress with others. He doesn't want to dwell on his problems
and says your idea is the perfect way to share our different lifestyles via the Internet. He lives in the desert in Palm Springs and he and his wife are professional photographers who live in retirement. Now that he is almost out of the woods - he wants to be a part of your dream. In order to think of something other than what his
illness forced him to do. Think of survival 24/7.
I personally loved your article about kissing. My boyfriend is from Argentina and he doesn't understand my family's aversion to being hugged and kissed. I think it is charming and I love his friends who greet me that way. What a better world it would be if we could all hug and kiss each other upon meeting. Talk about breaking the ice or barriers. He is a musician who has lived in Barcelona. He wants to send you pictures of him and some famous musicians he met there.
I am a photographer also and would love to share some customs and pictures of my city - Hollywood.
You are so clever to think of a way to normalize
a life that has been turned up side down. I am put in mind of a story I read once. A lady was sitting in a restaurant and her daughter had a disfiguring illness that affected her looks. She explained to some unthinking adult who came up and wanted to know what was wrong. She said, "Laura is not her chin" I thought then as I do now that it was a perfect squelch for someone. I took it to heart because of the size of my big rear end, I used to get teased and hear remarks. I would always tell myself, " I am not my bum".

Dearest Scoop,
My God - the amount you have showered me praises, I am really standing tall and am on top of the world ( I normally am!). I am really happy about your brother being given a complete okay and you must convince him to post his story as it will mean a lot to a lot of people. One other thing is that helps you get everything out of system as eachone here has been through various degrees of trauma and would be glad to see what your brother did and what they could do and exchange ideas.

You know Scoop, strangely enough I have never ever been to the US - and in fact never wanted to. Now dont ask me why - but it just happened so. My sister lives in the US and very often before I contracted my Cancer, I would be travelling to Mexico and would spend weeks there. My sister would pester me to come across - but I was adamant and would ensure she came over to Mexico. However, that does not mean I dont know of how things work in the US and what the places are like - Palm Springs. It must be really great for your brother and sister in law, have settled down in a great place and must be really happy living a retired life there. Do me a favor and tell him - life does not get over till the last breath and as long as you are breathing live all those moments like a king and do everything as if there was no tomorrow. Live every moment. Once you are able to do that - all your thoughts on the illness vanish and in due course you will have even forgotten about it. Please, once again, do me thgis favor.

Ahh.. the kissing bit. It is funny how things work in various parts of the world and how one learns from people of that Country. Having lived in Spain for most of my younger days, I always felt felt hugging and giving a peck on one or both cheeks was perfectly fine. It is the done thing - but it turned out something else in the UK and thats why I put that poser.
I agree with you when you say - its one of the best ways to greet each other as it does bring out the warmth of friendsship and even ifone is not on very good terms - it helps in forgiving. As I used to travel all over Spain, South America and Mexico - it was greeting with hugs and kisses - be it between men and women, men and men, women and women. There was nothing extraordinary about the exchange of greeting this way. Even though I live in India now, I still follow the practise and noone has objected but have seen a lot of others doing it too. Guess its very infectious. Barcelona will always be home to me and I truly love the place but my days of travel are over and though at times I think about how things could have been -I just break off and think of now.

I recall in 1998, when I had still not been diagnosed, my life was forever shuttling between Argentina , Mexico and India. Working of Mercedes Benz and as we were setting up assembly lines in India - it became my job to ensure the machinery etc. that was to come from Argentina and Mexico came on time. As I was the only guy who could speak both Spanish and English - I was the chosen one. I know one thing for certain - there are no ugly Argentinans - so bet your boyfriend must be the envy of all your other lady friends! They are fitness crazy and they never miss their work out timings - this was good for me as I too work out a lot and it gave me a chance to do the same.
It would be great if you would post some of the snaps - but not of the normal Hollywood we all see but the other parts as well.The famous road or sidewalk where all the celebrities have put their prints ( dont know why I was never called!!)and other lesser known spots. It would be great to be in touch with all of you'll - starting with you, your 'novio', your 'hermano'.
Do ask him to start - it will bring about major changes in his outlook towards life. He can see how life is truly beautiful if you make it so.
I dont even want to comment on the uncouths who have no common sense and talk through their hats without or with realising they are hurting a person. I wish they would put themselves in that situation for a moment and think before talking.

So - waiting eagerly to hear from your brother and all the details of your boyfriends stay in Barcelona and the musicians? Who knows we may some we know in common.

Take care and lots of love, kisses and hugs to each one of you,
Ananth

LOL....Flattery will get you everything with Ananth...right Ananth?