ジョン・スタンメイヤーのインスタグラム(johnstanmeyer) - 2月24日 04時40分

The other day @suvendrachandra kindly wrote, “could you please post some of the chai drinkers in the tea stalls” I often visit. These frequent stops are moments of meditation, where I stop to ponder, to reconcile what I’m actually feeling. Most often they open a doorway into the narrative I’m trying to tell...chai shops are portals into the incredible culture and people of India. Many times we meet someone over chai whose story is so interesting, a passageway into lives one otherwise would never gently touch. @camillaferrariphoto, @ankitha_rs and I met these two gentlemen and peeker at a chai shop near Mughalsarai. We didn’t chat much, instead we each became completely lost for more than an hour amongst all the beautiful strangeness within this space of noise and chaos. Delirious on chai, overwhelmed by all there was (visuals not at all connected to this National Geographic magazine story), it opened that space between space. Later that day, we came upon a moment that did touch upon the story, and we could feel.
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#onassignment @ナショナルジオグラフィック @outofedenwalk @natgeoimagecollection #india #uttarpradesh #chaishop #spacebetweenspace #portrait

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suvendrachandra Mr. Stanmeyer, please accept my humble thanks! I am myself a great fan of this chai culture and always marvel at how these chai shops can act as a great leveller. People from all walks/strata of the society share space here so naturally and easily. Each existing individually but somehow connected at some subliminal level. These chai shop owners can themselves be veritable fonts of wisdom and can also be really opinionated. I remember being rebuked by one in Manali, because I prefer my tea without sugar. In the cold weather there the people naturally prefer the extra calories of the extra sweet tea, I didn't! :) In Haridwar, I walked into a chai shop around 4:30 am once, and found the owner busy with setting up shop. He appreciated my offer for helping him and we fell into a conversation. Imagine my delight, when it came out that we had our roots in the same geographical area and had the same mother tongue. My single glass of chai extended to three, with malai bread toasts, and the time extended to around one hour. One thing led to another, stories within stories, or as you would so correctly point out often - layers! I remember sharing space with a Hanuman at the tea shop just in front of my work place once. The primate too seemed infused with the atmosphere as it sat there patiently and even tucked it's tails in to allow others to pass. No body was particularly bothered, it had earned it's right of presence by acting "civilized". Please forgive me if I am being presumptuous, but you just opened me up with your generous gesture. Maybe that's another minor story here :) Namaste🙏, as we say in Hindi or Nomoskar🙏 in Bengali, my mother tongue. Wishing you a happy stay in India, and a happy journey ahead!

rosa.delvalle.3517 wow that incredible moments you live I hope you never forget them, I do not know india but through you I am living it, because the images and your stories are very deep and that will make me never forget what you transmit with them

suvendrachandra I also really wanted to know how you would frame people in such settings, use the little available light! That kid behind with his askew peep and smile, seems to have found a story of his own! Thank you once again🙏

leo_hirsch I want to experience chai the way people drink it in India as I have experienced it in turkey! It’s truly fascinating the dialogue that can be cultivated. One day soon I will make the trip!

schwertphotos This is poetry. @johnstanmeyer while you are getting inspired by the people and the magic that happens around you, I get inspired by your stories. Thank you!

quantumkiteflier To stop and ponder more... to feel. These are healthy reminders I so often place outside my hurried world, yet mandatory for peace and sanity.

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