Okey-doke. All packed an ready to go. As you can see, it didn't take long.
4 pairs of pants, 4 T-shirts, 2 pairs of shorts and a thermal top that I hope won't be seeing the light of day at any stage whatsoever. Assorted survival gear including the eponymous spork, a fire starter (that will no doubt be impounded at airport security), a mess tin containing a mess of string, matches (let's be honest, the fire starter is only for show), water purification tablets (that I will only remember when I'm already dancing the Mumbai Mambo no doubt), and a British Army camp stove (for when I've strangled a cobra with my string and fancy a roadside BBQ. ...I assume it tastes like chicken.) Toothbrush, toothpaste, loo roll and miniature CK One phial comprises the toiletry set.
No biscuits, no Marmite, and crucially, no tea bags on this occasion. If India can't furnish me with a brew every 3 miles or so, then I'll be starting my own little mutiny on the spot. So the point is, no luxuries allowed. I need to keep the weight down to a bare minimum to give me the best chance of not giving up 5 miles in and completing the tour by taxi. That said, I MIGHT complete the tour by taxi if it all gets a bit much, but I won't be admitting that in public. I'll simply lie and say that I did it all on foot as planned.
HISTORICAL NOTE:
It is sometimes rather simplistically claimed that the Indian mutiny was caused by the issuing of new rifle cartridges to native troops coated in the grease of pork and beef fat. Hindu's revere the cow and Muslims consider pork unclean. Given both religions dominate Indian demographics, such a policy would be generally considered an inconsiderate act even by c.19th British standards.
Firstly, this wasn't the reason for the mutiny it seems, or at least that it was merely the spark that lit a fire already set and more than ready to catch. Feelings of resentment among Sepoys and the populous in general had been growing for some time for a number of reasons (I might touch on that in another post).
Secondly, the new cartridges, not issued at the time of the uprising, did not in fact have the grease of either animal on them. It was simply a rumour put about by those who wanted to mutiny, and I guess you can't blame them really.
Thirdly, and most importantly of all, this offers a reminder that different cultures and religions take all sorts of things very seriously, and the chances of me finding a decent ribeye or bacon sandwich to sustain me on my travels, seem very slim indeed. Morale is going to be a huge problem in India.
4 pairs of pants, 4 T-shirts, 2 pairs of shorts and a thermal top that I hope won't be seeing the light of day at any stage whatsoever. Assorted survival gear including the eponymous spork, a fire starter (that will no doubt be impounded at airport security), a mess tin containing a mess of string, matches (let's be honest, the fire starter is only for show), water purification tablets (that I will only remember when I'm already dancing the Mumbai Mambo no doubt), and a British Army camp stove (for when I've strangled a cobra with my string and fancy a roadside BBQ. ...I assume it tastes like chicken.) Toothbrush, toothpaste, loo roll and miniature CK One phial comprises the toiletry set.
No biscuits, no Marmite, and crucially, no tea bags on this occasion. If India can't furnish me with a brew every 3 miles or so, then I'll be starting my own little mutiny on the spot. So the point is, no luxuries allowed. I need to keep the weight down to a bare minimum to give me the best chance of not giving up 5 miles in and completing the tour by taxi. That said, I MIGHT complete the tour by taxi if it all gets a bit much, but I won't be admitting that in public. I'll simply lie and say that I did it all on foot as planned.
HISTORICAL NOTE:
It is sometimes rather simplistically claimed that the Indian mutiny was caused by the issuing of new rifle cartridges to native troops coated in the grease of pork and beef fat. Hindu's revere the cow and Muslims consider pork unclean. Given both religions dominate Indian demographics, such a policy would be generally considered an inconsiderate act even by c.19th British standards.
Firstly, this wasn't the reason for the mutiny it seems, or at least that it was merely the spark that lit a fire already set and more than ready to catch. Feelings of resentment among Sepoys and the populous in general had been growing for some time for a number of reasons (I might touch on that in another post).
Secondly, the new cartridges, not issued at the time of the uprising, did not in fact have the grease of either animal on them. It was simply a rumour put about by those who wanted to mutiny, and I guess you can't blame them really.
Thirdly, and most importantly of all, this offers a reminder that different cultures and religions take all sorts of things very seriously, and the chances of me finding a decent ribeye or bacon sandwich to sustain me on my travels, seem very slim indeed. Morale is going to be a huge problem in India.
No comments:
Post a Comment