December
A New Year's party that will go down in folklore
To help us forget about what was in store
A boat then a drum then a cultural soiree
Of weapons and fire and an eyebrow display
Fellow drivers dressed as babies or dinosaurs
A snake made an appearance, a momentary pause
The dance floor heaving with fleeting hope
Blissfully ignoring our adventure's scope
He sat there, resplendent in canopy green
Rickshaws circled us but they went by unseen
A walk then a hop then a triumphant run
We greeted our dear rickshaw like a newborn son
Dave, we would call him - reliable Dave
Dave knows how to have fun and how to behave
We looked at each other, a mischievous grin
Time to spruce Dave up and take him for a spin
Four dishes, each spicier than the last
Prepared before us in a cooking class
'Masala' simply means a mixture of spices
If you're heading to India my advice is -
Ready your senses for the inevitable onslaught
The tastes fight for attention like some internal sport
At the end of our dishes we marveled at the skill
Bellies on fire, but this was no fire drill
We laid out Ashley's team items on the floor
She couldn't have possibly fit any more
16 boxes of tissues I tell you
For any issues regarding the loo
They weren't small boxes, they were packed to the brim
16 boxes! We needed to trim
Our little vehicle would be bearing the load
Wobbling and bouncing its way down the road
The three siblings all in one place!
Each loopier than a shoelace
All tied together by a rash decision
To traverse India - without fatal collision
Our faces showed courage, our stomachs a mess
What lay ahead was anyone's guess
It began in the South in a place called Kochi
A crash of colour and sound, and the air was smokey
What time zone am I in?
My head pounds amidst the din
I haven't slept since I left Spain
Marcus can't quite share the pain
He's an athlete at transit sleeping
I watch on, gently weeping
Two nights on an airport floor
Countless sheep and still no snore
Packing and snacking on our way out
I'll return to Spain there is no doubt
Food stuffed in my hands before I could speak
A thunderous hug and a kiss on the cheek
Generous people with generous faces
Lighting up these far-flung places
A final wave and I'm swept away
India beckons beyond the grey
Christmas online
Suited me just fine
Opening presents over Skype
Only increased the hype
Brothers in a Spanish attic
Online Kiwi parents ecstatic
Gran and sis and sam and dog
Tucking into gifts and grog
Two scared little pets
Alert for impending threats
Dogs, they call themselves
Nervous glances at the shelves
The shelves, are they falling?
Listen is that the owner calling?
Calling or sounding the alarm?
Flee you fools, away from harm
Several train rides later
After boring the narrator
We arrived to a bear hug
Warmer than a Persian rug
My good mate from Peru
Our Spain homestay debut
Mattresses in the attic
The hospitality; emphatic
Barcelona by bike
Ride as you like
Through the crowd
Through places not allowed
Along the waterfront
Trying a sandy stunt
Sleepy, cruisey fun
A gently setting sun
Close your eyes it's about to get steamy
Saucier than a plate of sashimi
We found ourselves at the erotic museum
A sight to rival the Coliseum
There were large objects hanging from walls
Something similar to a bat and balls
Lots of educational readings
A nice way to kick off the day's proceedings
Marcus and I are on the hunt
For sunglasses with extra grunt
Filthy casual is what we're after
Capable of inducing bouts of laughter
We need to go back, way back, old school
Back when slanted rims were cool
That'll keep the haters at bay
Glasses on, no more to say
There he is, the myth the legend
Lionel Messi he runs like the wind
There we sat in a packed stadium
Having bought tickets on a whim
Never before have I been that excited
Though my love for the man is unrequited
He created three goals in a burst at the end
Doing things mere mortals cannot comprehend
Wandered Barcelona in a party shirt
Looking for more people to convert
These shirts are magnets for good times
They radiate smile-inducing enzymes
There goes one, he likes to party
He must be off to somewhere arty
There is no stopping this revolution
Join or face heavy retribution
Rain with a chance of table tennis
Rapid Ryan vs Marcus The Menace
The forehand dominated early proceedings
Both players had done their homework readings
Neither player could make sense of the ball
Sometimes mid-air it seemed to stall
The arm wrestle continued all day
When it rains it is time play
One Euro more for first class seats
Go on then, they might have treats
They did have treats - you bet they did
How is he in first class, he is just a kid
We laughed at the stares along the way
With our huge backpacks of dirt and fray
Power plugs, food and drinks
What a deal, but shhh... don't jinx
Waiting in the train station
The lull before a new location
Two brothers killing time
Occasionally busting out a rhyme
The beat laid on nice and thick
Filthier than an oil slick
Games appear from thin air
We are a rather strange pair
Spanish streets aim to please
They are lined with orange trees
Get your five-plus a day
As you make your merry way
Inhaling the citric delight
Walking is no longer a plight
Skip or sing a ballad
Your own Spanish fruit salad
Bye bye Matty
It's all been rather batty
Loopy weekends
Oddball friends
Rugby and kebabs
No one's keeping tabs
Plenty of fish chat
The Spanish can't handle that