Ride to the Surreal Maladevi Jain Temple, Gyraspur, Vidisha, MP By Sabya Sachi Ghosh



Maladevi, Gyraspur, Vidisha

Bing an ardent fan of Dali I think I had already seen the landscape around the Maladevi Temple in one of his paintings (of course dali did not paint the Maladevi Temple) and other times I often dreamt of such landscapes. But never have I seen a more beauteous ruin placed atop a cliff that overlooks a horseshoe shaped valley.  The Maladevi is a large structure that seems to be crumbling in parts but giving it a closer scrutiny one is relieved to see that this wonder will last for another thousand year or more. Here the MP govt. has taken great care to maintain the environment around the structure.

Cultural Analysis of Quilting - "A Place For All" Class Quilt!

My trusty assistant

This course was designed and implemented by yours truly for a cegep that I work for in the Eastern Townships in Quebec, Canada. It draws from an interdisciplinary approach including but not limited to anthropology, sociology, geography, and philosophy to show how material objects (in this case, textiles) can embody world views. Taking as a starting point the warmth, both physical and emotional, and the narrative symbolism represented by the quilt, the class explored the world views of the many different cultures that have or had some form of quilting as an element of their material culture. Students discovered the roots of the medium as well as its functions both social and cultural. The impact of modern technologies on these sociological forms were examined. As quilts were traditionally primarily made by women, this is an ideal forum to unpick some of the interpretations of the quilting bee as a site for feminist freedom and expression. Case studies were conducted to examine two themes - commodification of culture (regarding the Gee’s Bend quilters, and quilts made by the Amish community) and quilting for activism (the AIDS quilt and the Monument quilt). Students were also given the chance to gain a practical experience of the social and cultural power of quilting by interacting with the Quilt of Belonging project which is based in Canada.

Recent Tattoos By Crystal-Marie!

These were completed by yours truly yesterday at Forever Ink!

Contact Information

Crystal-Marie- Facebook

Forever Ink - Facebook

1576 Rue King Ouest #110, 

Sherbrooke, QC J1J 2C3

Tel: (819) 791 7766

Tattoos By Crystal-Marie (aka Eternal Sunshine)!

The Venerable Ms. Crystal-Marie 

aka Eternal Sunshine

This is a collection of Crystal Marie's work over the course of the last several years. Based at Forever Ink, I have been inked by her on several occasions and couldn't be happier with her professionalism, artistry and made skills and personality. Have a look! If you see something that catches your fancy or if you would like to have her design something just for you, contact her today!

The Ups and Downs of Life!

You know that meme that we always see , of the crying strung out person breaking down? With the words"me trying to find a balance life etc." then there is  the photo after? That my friends is artist life ( and life in general I suppose ). Well anyways it's mine, BUT, its worth it.

DesTination: Musée de l'Auto Ancienne de Richmond Part Deux

Don't let the lacklustre exterior fool you - it's a treasure trove inside!

My last visit to the Musée de l'Auto Ancienne de Richmond was back in July 2014 with father in law who was visiting from the Republic of Ireland. I always knew I would return someday once our two boys shifted their interest towards cars. I credit the Dukes of Hazzard more than my own mechanical abilities and or passion for cars; although, to be fair, I grew up lusting over many a classic car as well when they were still reasonably affordable and deals could be had. Thus, I seized the opportunity to nurture their interests by taking them this past July for a visit and also because I was curious to see if the museum had changed its displays since my last visit. There is something magical about these old cars and often I can't help but wonder what will become of these relics when humanity manages to kick its addiction to fossil fuels.

Perspectives: An Open Invitation To Cultural Anthropology

Download Your Free Copy Here!

"We are delighted to bring to you this novel textbook, a collection of chapters on the essential topics in cultural anthropology. Different from other introductory textbooks, this book is an edited volume with each chapter written by a different author. Each author has written from their experiences working as an anthropologist and that personal touch makes for an accessible introduction to cultural anthropology. The first peer-reviewed open access textbook for cultural anthropology courses. Produced by the Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges and available free of charge for use in any setting." 

- The Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges

Join Me This September 2017 On The Ride For Men's Health In The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride!

Whilst I may be anything but a gentleman, let alone distinguished, that should not stop you from supporting me in helping raise money for this year's Distinguished Gentleman's Ride (DGR) in Montréal! A notable cause, this event unites classic and vintage style motorcycle enthusiasts (and then some...) to raise awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health. This year DGR will also be directly supporting the Movember Foundation.

DesTination Village Québécois d'Antan

My Little Angel at North Hatley Farmers Market
A quick stop for picnic supplies before we visited Le Village Québécois d'Antan!

Le Village Québécois d'Antan boasts that their little village will take you back in time in Québec from 1810-1930! On paper, this village seems to be similar to Upper Canada Village located in Morrisburg, Ontario. At just under an hour from Sherbrooke or just over an hour from Montreal, this is a fun and generally inexpensive trip away from home for families and motorcyclists alike. The village is actually quite sweet but also boasts several modern conveniences that will suit folks who don't mind losing some of the authenticity found in other parks like Upper Canada Village. For families and bikers alike, there is even a sprinkler park to help cool you off. If you arrive early you'll also have the sprinkler park to yourself. There are also various concession stands selling cotton candy, ice cream and soft drinks and other modern amenities. If camping is your thing, there is also a camp site that shares a borderline with the park so that you can visit through the camp site as well for an additional, albeit rebated price. This blog is picture heavy so enjoy the journey!

L'Institut Doréa - A Photo Album By Stacy Gaudreau & Sophie Lefebvre

It's no secret that I find myself drawn to abandoned buildings and towns. Thus, when I came across these pictures of L'Institut Doréa, I couldn't help but ask permission to share them with you. These pictures were taken by Stacy and Sophie earlier this July whilst on a ride together just over an hour outside of Montréal. Located in Franklin, Quebec, L'Institut Doréa has a history filled with more questions than it has left answers. Linked to the Duplessis Orphans, according to Stacy, there is speculation that the Dorea Institute was placed where it was to be close to an esteemed psychiatrist who just so happened to live very close to the Quebec border in Vermont, U.S.A. They worked on the CIA mind control projects and in doing so, mistreated orphan children falsely declared insane and forced into mental institutions by the gov't and church at the time. 😞 Abandoned in 1995, the former institute decays quietly and with it, the truth behind it what really happened behind its walls.

The Ride That Should Have Been!

Bike In Distress

We have all been there.  We get excited in the planning, mapping and the anticipation of the ride. We look forward to the experience of the journey into the unknown. We look forward to the free open road and we know that in the future we will be able to tell the story and share our adventure with anyone who understands what it means to be free on a motorcycle, and with anyone interested enough to view our pictures and hear about our adventure... after all, the ride itself is only part of the fun. This ride plan started in early spring. Bug Spattered Jacket, and Junkyard Villain had discussed taking an overnight ride into Eastern Ontario to continue our discussion on our joint project we are working on, and to just ride.

PaRts BiN: Suzuki & Moto Guzzi (& Then Some) Parts For Sale!

SOLD!

HAYNES SERVICE + REPAIR MANUAL

SUZUKI INTRUDER MARAUDER VOLUSIA & BOULEVARD 85 TO 09

Over the course of the last seven years I have collected a few things over the years that were intended for either Serenity, my 1996 Suzuki Intruder and most recently, Bella, my 2014 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer. Some of the parts worked out really well whilst others, whilst no fault of their own, fell to the wayside as I am constantly tinkering with my bikes in some form or another. If you are looking for something in particular that I don't have listed, let me know. I may be tempted to part with some OEM parts for my Guzzi in particular. All prices are in Canadian dollars. Thus, use a currency converter when doing the math.

Visiting La Musée de l'Ingéniosité J Armand Bombardier On Bambi - My SYM Wolf Classic 150cc!

Visiting La Musée de l'Ingéniosité J Armand Bombardier On Bambi 

- My SYM Wolf Classic 150cc!

With moving week well behind us, it occurred to me that I've been neglecting Bambi these past few weeks as my attentions were on Bella. It has nothing to do with the quality of one bike over the other, per se, but rather, Bella has been helping me accompany learners in Montreal and the Eastern Townships. To date I have put in and around 900 kilometers (559 miles) on Bambi which admittedly, isn't much. But I am a firm believer in quality over quantity and I am pleased to say that I am still very much enjoying the little SYM Wolf Classic very much. So much so that I decided to take my oldest son out on a ride with me this morning. With no particular place in mind, we set off with a sense of adventure and excitement as we hoped to shake off the past week's flurry of moving, painting and all those other delightful (not) tasks that come with moving.

Simply Super! - Ruiz Burgos Artwork

Born in Granada (Spain). After working as a graphic designer for a while, I obtained a degree in Illustration at the School of Art of Granada. There, thanks to a classmate I discovered what I want'ed for my professional future. I started working as a cover artist in the comic book industry in 2013. 

- Juan Carlos Ruiz Burgos

Words and Pic © Juan Carlos Ruiz Burgos

See More Of His Amazing Work:

Website Blog Twitter Facebook Instagram ArtStation Behance Deviant Art

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Moto Guzzi Museum and Lake Como Moto Vlog: Meat and Motorcycles Italy

Moto Guzzi Museum and Lake Como Moto Vlog: Meat and Motorcycles Italy

The Moto Guzzi Museum tour in Lake Como - Mandello Del Lario plus Lake Como. First video from my recent vacation to Italy. Stopped in Lake Como to visit the Moto Guzzi Museum and do some serious Relaxing.  Thanks for watching and be sure to Like, Subscribe, and share.

- Guy Arnone (aka - Meat and Motorcycles)

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Would you like to be a Guest or Regular Contributor? 

Say What? is always looking for quality contributions to our blog!
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A Review of My Purchased Accessories For Bella - My Moto Guzzi V7 Racer!

A Jaunt With Bella: Testing Her NRP Exhaust With DB Killers!

It's been just over a year since I welcomed Bella into my life. Within the first two hours of ownership I had stripped many of the stock parts off of her and replaced them with aftermarket goodies that I had been collecting over the winter. Though not all potential accessories for my Moto Guzzi V7 Racer made it on the bike. It's part of the fun of owning a bike, any bike, don't you think? 😜 Whilst it is true, you can customize any vehicle to make it your own, there is just something rather special about customizing a motorcycle. Whether you are trying to gain more horsepower or you're simply looking to add a gremlin bell, the motorcycle itself is an extension of your personality. Having only recently completed my 6000 kilometer (3728 Mile) review, I celebrated my ownership of Bella with an array of new (to me) accessories courtesy of a lovely lad from the United Kingdom. The purpose of this post is to go over all of the accessories that I have purchased over the last year and give a brief overview of each accessory and whether the purchase was worth it or not. It may (or may not) help you in making your decision about how to accessorise your very own Moto Guzzi V7 Racer.

Riders Against Hunger - On Rock Community Services 6th Annual Fundraiser Ride!

1st annual Riders Against Hunger

I will never forget when I first met Kim Reid, and how I was taken by his story of  running a local food bank. I had a feeling at that moment that I wanted to get this know this dude. We had ended up on a ride together up through the mountain in Rigaud, Qc. It was a glorious day and we had joined a small group for an afternoon ride. It took me 10 seconds to say yes that I'd attend when Kim later that day told me of his first annual Riders Against Hunger in September of 2012.

Ride to Pitalkhora Caves, Chalisgaon, Maharashtra By Sabya Sachi Ghosh

Pitalkhora Caves

The ghosts of Pitalkhora Caves. On my descent to the caves I heard some people talk. This made me glad as I was all alone and thought that at least the guard and his companion will give me company. Tourists being there was out of the question since my bike was the only ride parked at the mouth of the stairs. On my reaching the site I was met with emptiness and those voices had ceased too. Perhaps the talkers were present inside some caves. Thinking this I kept an eye out for them while exploring the caves. I did not find anyone and got a bit alarmed not spooked though. Then while exploring the furthest caves on the other side of the cliff I heard humans again coming from the main chaitya hall. I looked up only to see some parrots making merry which uncannily resembled human voices spoken in an unfamiliar language. I quickly fixed my telescopic lens and captured those green goblins, those ghosts of Pitalkhora. Indeed I was the only visitor there, having spent 3 hours alone exploring the caves with not a soul in sight, not even the ASI guard was anywhere to be seen. On my climb back to my ride I met with a man headed towards the caves. He was the two hours tardy ASI personnel, amazing!

My Moto Guzzi V7 Racer (aka Bella) 6000 Kilometer (3728 Miles) Review!

Bella Out and About in The Eastern Townships -
Semi-Abandoned Businesses Reminding Us of a Different Time

In just over a month of having picked Bella up from storage we found ourselves right back at Rock Moto Sport for my 6000 kilometers (3728 mile) service. To say that she has been the center of my attention is an understatement. 😉 From visiting the Boscobel Ghost Town and meeting up with B.A.C.A. Montreal to see them off on their 100 Mile Run to some Back Roads Therapy with Junkyard Villain and his lovely Harley Davidson Heritage Classic; we have even helped a couple of motorcycle learners by taking them to their motorcycle road exams at the SAAQ! Ownership of my Moto Guzzi V7 Racer has been exquisite. 😍 Indeed, if I had any complaints at all they would be mostly about some of the accessories that I purchased last year. Like any proper motorcyclist, I have also succumbed to purchasing even more accessories for Bella from a very lovely British fellow this spring (It's an addiction, I know). 😜

The Backroad Ball 2017 - Another Successful Year!

The Backroad Ball 2017 from The Backroad Ball on Vimeo.

The Backroad Ball is not only a women's only motorcycle adventure weekend & campout. It's a celebration of female motorcyclists. Inspired by events such as California's "Babes Ride Out" and Washington's "The Dream Roll" the creators of The Backroad Ball are striving to create a sense of community amongst all female motorcyclists in Eastern Canada as well as surrounding states & areas. Registration is open to all licensed female-identifying motorcyclists as well as moto-curious women regardless of motorcycle make or type, club affiliation, or age (19+). The first year for the event was a huge success and we can't wait to share what we've come up with for year two with you! Check out #BRB2016 to check out last years good times! Come sit around a bonfire and swap stories, enjoy the talent of local musicians, take in the beautiful New Brunswick scenery on organized group rides, make new friends, get tattooed & rock out to your heart's content! We can't wait to meet you!

- K & B

Start 'Em Young With A Kiddimoto Balance Motorcycle!

Birthday Girl Atop Her New Kiddimoto Kawasaki Ninja!

Kiddimoto kids balance motorcycle is the perfect gift for your little biker in the making. I found this little gem at Rock Moto Sport last week when I brought Bella in for her 6000 kilometer (3728 mile) service. The little wooden balance bike was hanging from the ceiling as part of their promotional advertising for Kawasaki Motorcycles. A Kawasaki Ninja no less (No. 66) it's fitted with a wooden frame, wheels with aluminium edge, air-filled tires and seat and handles made of foamed material. It's specifically made for children from 80 to 105 cm height. With my daughter's 4th birthday around the corner, I couldn't resist! 😎

Classic Machines Paris Circuit Carole 24-25 Juin, 2017!

Classic Machines, Le Week-End 100% Passion!

C’est ce week-end qu'aura lieu Classic Machines, sur le circuit Carole, aux portes de Paris. Comme depuis deux ans, c'est l'événement qui fait rouler et se rencontrer les amateurs de belles machines sur la piste du circuit Carole. Un événement 100 % plaisir, où plus de 200 motos - des années 1940 à 1991 et le café racers - et une vingtaine de side-cars roulent sur le circuit sans les contraintes d’une course, puisque ça n’en est pas une. Juste le plaisir de rouler, entre amis, au rythme que l’on choisit. Pas de course, pas de chronomètre, pas de classement juste l’éclate durant les séries qui s'enchainent comme des perles durant tout le week-end. 

A Review of Richard Hammond's A Short History of the Motorcycle (2017)

Available Via Amazon

I'll be teaching Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Studies this autumn again and decided that in addition to the late Robert Pirsig's book which the course itself is named after (just replace 'Studies' with 'Maintenance') I also decided to include another book by Richard Hammond of Top Gear fame. Whilst Hammond has since moved on to bigger and debatably better things in the form of The Grand Tour and Drive Tribe with his lifelong friends and co-hosts James May and Jeremy Clarkson, it's nice to see that he still has time to publish a book or two every now and then. Unlike Top Gear, Drive Tribe allows room for more than just exotic cars as motorcycles are given their dues. Not surprising really given that both Hammond and May are avid motorcyclists, both boasting a collection that the majority of folks like us can only dream of. Hammond's newest book, A Short History of the Motorcycle is a testament to his love of two wheels and in keeping with his target audience, provides plenty of pictures too. That is a good thing. Me likes picture books. 😜

Geoffrey Darwent: Biker, Painter, Storyteller!

Darwent Paintings By Geoffrey Darwent

I met Geoffrey Darwent back in 2014 on a ride to Venise, Quebec with the Dragon Riders. He was riding a Kawasaki Vulcan 800 at the time which was begging for a Blue Collar Bobber Kit. Even then I knew he was more than just your average biker. He is also a Canadian painter. Self-taught, his prolific technique is quite unique. His paintings often represent nature as well as life's mysteries, beauty and peace. Each painting is made using only the highest quality acrylic paint and tells a story. Below are just some of the examples on offer at present.

Becoming A Tattoo Artist - Draw Or Else!

Draw Or Else!
Pic/Gif © gifin.com

Over the course of the last seven months I have noticed that despite the prevailing belief that to become a tattoo artist you need to be an expert drawer, the truth is this is not always the case. It would be fair to say that any tattoo artist should have an artistic talent. However, many artists are opting to create beautiful and intricate designs via programs like PhotoShop. There are two schools of thought on the latter. Some argue that the technology is removing the artist from the art whilst others say that it is a natural extension of the artist's talent. Whatever your thoughts on the matter, as far as I am concerned so long as the artist can actually tattoo, it's all that matters. I use to draw regularly when I was younger but once I moved to Ireland I allowed it to fall by the wayside. It wasn't from a lack of interest. Rather, there aren't many people willing to pay for handdrawn images anymore. 😔