Samit Sharma
Published November 11, 2016
I’m back !
Back from Karnataka. Sleep deprived but stronger than ever.
My Karnataka trip was an absolute blast. Now admittedly, people on this trip were more fun than most places I visited. Of the 24 students on the trip, my clique of 6 was fun. We got to know each other when we pulled an all nighter on the train ride to Karnataka. The conversation starters app, Chatoms, really helped. A conversation starters app sounds lame, we thought so too. But it worked. We talked through the night, the conversations were pleasant and occasionally hilarious, no one got sleepy. I am glad long conversations aren’t dead. I thought group texting killed ’em off.
The places, like I said, were less amazing. Everything in Bijapur was mostly meh. The Gol Gumbaz only looks pretty and big from the outside.
It’s not that big actually. It’s only seven storeys. It is Muhammed Adil Shah’s tomb, made with money taken from 15th century farmers and peasants. But it does photograph well, so there’s that. I’d like to add here, all monuments in and around Bijapur are tombs, and they all look the same. Building with a dome on top and dead people underneath.
Badami was way better. It was the Chalukya’s capital, who were democratic, secular rulers of the western Deccan plateau between 5th and 8th centuries. Nice fellas. They made temples for Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists, not for worship but for architectural and cultural grandeur. They also made beautiful caves and named a place called Aihole. Lovely people, the Chalukyas. Too bad they’re all dead. Their temple complex in Pattadakal is a UNESCO world heritage site for all the right reasons.
This is the Temple in Pattadakal where 82 Indian kings were coronated. It has glorious architecture and sculpture. The place is too beautiful to be described in words.
The best parts of the trip however, were in the hotels. There was no curfew hour and our teachers were cool. I now have relationship dirt on many of my classmates, and backstage news on my teachers and a lot of college gossip in general. Can’t wait to use it when college reopens.
On Wednesday, we were driving to Belgaum. The day after Modi shat a bomb that made 500 and 1000 buck notes illegal. I was on Twitter the entire time, updating a bus full of people Trump winning. Then at about 1 pm, he won. Most people around me said ‘shit’ or ‘fuck’. I was surprised my phone handled it all on shifty cell reception. iPhones are great for road trips. I hope Trump is great for America too.
I lost a bet to my dad about who’ll be President but now I’m mostly optimistic about a Trump presidency. Let’s hope so much power kills the racist, misogynist moron in him. I’m a little scared about his views on immigration and his stupid take on climate change, but let’s hope everything is fine. Screw that. I can’t sell the positives of Trump in power.
Good luck America. RIP the ₹1000 note.
Tis, mate, was the Weekly Email Blast, email 86. Happy holidays !!!
All Things Sam 