Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What's a blog? What made you start one?
A blog is an electronic journal. It's short for weblog. My blog is a way for me to stay connected with family and friends while in a far-away land, and to share my experiences of this journey with them. It has its roots in a paper newsletter, called Newz NewZealand, that I started about 12 years ago, when I moved to New Zealand in 1992. The newsletter was published quarterly or so, and mailed by snail mail to about 30 friends and family. When I subsequently moved to Rochester, it became the Rochester Rambler (with a temporary stint as The New Yak Times). When I embarked on the India trip, the hard-copy newsletter was reincarnated in electronic format as India Ink.

What's the purpose of your blog?
My only aim is to tell you what's going on inside my head, and relay what I'm seeing and hearing on this journey. It's not the purpose of this blog to tell you everything there is to know about India. I don't claim to be objective or thorough or unbiased. It's just me talkin' here, and sending you an electronic postcard!

How long are you in India for?
A year, give or take a few months. I came in January 2004, and my visa expires in December. It's possible that I may stay longer if needed.

June 2005 update: Make that, two years, give or take a few months...
January 2006 update: Ummmm...looks like 3 years?

Can you notify me when you add something to the blog, so that I don't have to keep checking it daily?
Sure- just sign up for the mailing list. Enter your email address in the Mailing List text box and click on the arrows to the right of the text box. It's an automated process that sends you an email whenever I post something new. You can still remain anonymous; I don't know who is on the mailing list, I only know the total number of people who are on it.
                                       

How often do you post to the blog? Can't you post more often?!
Some weeks I post every day, other times I post once or twice a week. Just depends on how how many thoughts are rummaging around in my head, how many pictures I'm dying to share with you all, and how stressed I am at work that week. I would love to post daily, if this was my full-time job!

What's the calendar for?
The calendar shows what dates have a posting, and can be used as a quick link to the posting. A day that has an entry is shown with a square border. Click on the date to go to the entry. Click on the arrows on either side of the month name to navigate to entries from other months.
                                      

How can I post a message?
You can post messages in two ways; either as a comment or on the blog board.

To post a comment, click on the Last Updated line, at the bottom of the entry you want to comment on. The entry will re-display with a comment form at the bottom. Scroll down to the bottom and enter your comment.
                     

To post a message on the blog board, click inside the box that says "why not leave a message" and type your message. Then, type your name in the name box below your message, and click on the arrows to the right of your name. It looks like this:
                     

Update June 2006: The Blog Board is not available at this time.

Help! I've tried to post a comment, but it doesn't work.
If you are running Security software (particularly Norton Internet security), add www.blog-city.com to your options. You may also need to reconfigure to allow your browser referral information to be passed. Instructions can be found at Symantec.

How do you know when I have posted a comment? What if I post a comment to an older blog entry, will you see it?
Any time someone posts a comment, I get an automatic email message announcing that someone has commented. This is done for all blog entries, old or new.

What is TalkBack?
TalkBack is a section where I answer questions/comments posted by my readers. I read every comment that anyone posts, and answer many of them, if I have an answer or comment. It's a way for me to have a conversation with friends and family.
                                           

What is trackback?
Trackback is a Blog City feature that allows you to link to comments in someone else's blog. (I don't use this feature much).

How many people read your blog?
I don't know exactly how many. I do know I have a lot of lurkers, because on days when I post a new message, I average about 250 400 550 800 hits per day. (A "hit" is anytime a person opens my site.) An interesting exception was the week I posted the picture of Yakshi, the divine enchantress; immediately after that, the daily hits skyrocketed. Hmmmmmm......

A running tally of hits is shown in the Hit Counter. (Note: The number below is just a sample picture of the hit counter taken a while ago. For the actual number, see the real hit counter on the right side of this site).

                                     

I'm too shy to post. Can I just read without commenting?
Ok, no worries, you don't have to post. You're welcome to just lurk. But you know how much you enjoy reading the blog? That's how much I like to read the comments.... (hint, hint)

A friend told me about your blog. I don't know you very well. Can I leave a comment anyway?
Of course. And feel free to introduce yourself!

Do you pay anything for your blog? How can I get one?
Blogs with the Blog City service are free if you don't mind advertising, and anyone can get one. I don't like the advertising, so I pay a small fee to keep it ad-free. I also pay an additional annual fee for extra space, to support that expensive photography habit of mine. You can get information on how to set up your own blog by clicking on the Blog City link on the right of the site.

Are all those pictures your own? What camera do you use?
All pictures are my own, unless stated otherwise. I have a 5 megapixel Nikon CoolPix 5700 digital camera. It has an 8x optical zoom Nikkor lens (4x digital zoom), with a focal length range of 35-280mm.

Can I come visit you in India?
Please do! I might even take your picture, and add you to the blog.

Comments

[Dale B.]

One hundred hits per day?? Over 10,000 total?? I had no idea how many people were reading this blog.

[Donna Maxwell]

Basia,

I'm so glad to see you're feeling better and back to blogging! I know I speak for everyone who knew you'd fallen ill (and believe me - news traveled fast) when I say you gave us a scare.
Few questions for you:
1. Are you able to get back to rowing yet?
2. What in the WORLD possessed you to let Paul Krause onto your site as a guest blogger??? We'll chalk that one up to a drug induced delieria :)

Be Well - we miss you!
- Donna

[Sharon from CT]

Hi kiddo, a few days after someone asked if being on the water rowing could have accounted for your illness, a special report appeared on US TV about surfers getting sick off the Oregon coast due to pollution...and the number of beaches closed across the country for cleanup...the discussion was: is there more pollution or are many localities being more diligent in checking water quality??
Your comment about appreciating non-itchy fingers reminded me of an old Zen quote, "When the shoe fits, you forget the foot." Glad you're recovering nicely. Sharon

[Dilip]

HI,
I really enjoyed the pictures of shravan with family and friends.
Thanks Basia ..

[Dilip]

Kalpana also told about the advice given by you for me not helping her sometimes !!! :((
When i see you next time you owe an explanation for that :))

[louise - email louisehutchinson]

Hello Basia, I came across your site whilst looking for information on how to gain residency in India - so far I have not found anything and cannot get hold of the Indian High Commission in UK. My family and I wish to permanently move to India - slightly west of Rishikesh up in the north.

Have you any advice on residing in India other than the usual 6 month visa - we wish to buy some land in area mentioned and build an ecologically sound log home with the intention over a 3 to 5 year span of building others to form an earth conscious small community. In the past while travelling India I came across individuals who had resided in India for years but at the time it was not relevant to me to know how they managed to do this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. What a wonderful life you have and well done for having the get up and go to create your various homes around the globe! kind regards, Louise