24 July 2024

From the barista’s corner: Coffee from the 11th country (Uganda)

Got this gift of coffee packet from Nikita who recently came back from her internship in Uganda. Had to do some research on the coffee source. One thing it exposed is how little geography I know.

This coffee is grown in the mountains of Bugisu area bordering on Kenya. Most of the coffee is arabica in style and is grown in small plots by farmers on the volcanic loams surrounding Mt. Elgon. This packet is dark roasted but the beans look surprising lighter in color. The coffee is lower on the acidity scale.

Category: Coffee | LEAVE A COMMENT
22 July 2024

Do you notice anything different?

Got tired of the cars from behind (if there are cars from front, I cannot often detect the noise of cars from behind) enough to put in two side mirrors. They solved that problem but now extended the length of my handle bars a lot. It is tricky to get the bike in and out of garage without hitting the motorbike or car. I will try this for some time and eventually might go to the digital solution (rear camera).

Category: Biking | LEAVE A COMMENT
22 July 2024

Trying to defy age

John Mcgehee had given me an invaluable advice once – about the need to stop atrophying of muscle strength, flexibility and balance as I grow older. In a bit to focus on balance I got this thing. It is a simple board and a roller. It has stops underneath on either end – so the board will not slip off the roller completely.

Also, Sharmila is refusing to buy me a One Wheel. Something about I have too many wheels in the garage, evidently. Let me see if my ability to keep balance might sway her vote.

BTW, this thing is scary for sure. After some practice, I can keep myself in balance for a couple of seconds without rolling off to one side. Have you ever tried anything like this?

20 July 2024

I loved the bus journey. The train? Not so much!

The good news is that I got 10 hours of road time with Niki. The bad news is that means my car is still sitting at the airport. Instead of bothering Sharmila and Nikita to take me there, I decided to change up my life a little and take public transportation.

Had to start from the very basics – like downloading the app to catch a bus and all that. The bus stop is about a couple of minutes walk from my house. Loved that journey. This is the second time I took MARTA bus. Being able to see all the familiar scenes, except now I am much higher and have long glass window panes was inexplicably exciting. Experiencing the bus stop to drop off or pick up a passenger and even watching how each passenger go thru the decisioning process of which seat to take was strangely enjoyable. But the best part was speeding down the highway!!!

The train journey – which should have been even more interesting – was marred by the fact that I quickly became queasy. Both Niki and I suffer from car sickness. One of the rare times when I had taken Marta train in the past, it was so bad that I had to get off at a station and take the next one after stabilizing myself.

Maybe I should go around in the buses randomly just to … you know, ummm…for no particular reason at all.

By the way, the street you see in the picture is where I live.

Category: Musings | LEAVE A COMMENT