Drinking more beer - Al continues with his favourite, Carlsberg, but he reminisces about his second favourite, Tuborg, while Zed gets into the good zone with every man's favourite - a scotch and soda. aka. High Ball - which comes pre-mixed in a can at the local banya stores in Japan! Al and Zed go down memory lane to when they first met in Beijing, China, of all bloody places, and the insane fun that was had all those years ago - living, working and partying in epic proportions as two Bindaas buggers from Bandra, Bombay, in the ancient Chinese capital city. Staying true to their roots, Al and Zed end up discussing (and agreeing) that beer tastes best in cold weather (although they agree that it’s enjoyable in hot weather too - particularly on tropical beaches.) Al then reflects on his birth and a crowning glory in the story of the Indian Republic (with the young nation’s high principles and ideals inspiring the rest of the world) and the natural, endless optimism that came from being born in a time when Bangladesh was also a baby. Zed remembers one of his favourite uncles, who was shot down and who amazingly ejected mid-day from an IAF fighter plane during a mission, as well as the curious circumstances surrounding his birth at the beginning of India's dark days of Emergency. Al gets into the 5,000 year history of Beer - its diverse drinking cultures and traditions, Zed talks about drinking as a kid and the delights of Shandy. Al talks about the drinking state, plus cheap duty free shops in light of obscene, downright criminal government taxation rates on liquor. Also, Al's recent travels to pro-alcohol Denmark and the Nordics just before all Hell broke loose with Covid in Europe. The rest is recent history and the present. Sigh. Other topics covered at random: A random story about Zed's birth certificate, the late great George Harrison's heart-felt concert for Bangladesh with Pandit Ravi Shankar (check it out on YouTube, it’s free of charge), the other time that the world almost majorly cocked up with Big Bombs in the Bay of Bengal, the challenges to freedom of speech in India thanks to the rise of the fascists... progress and victory for al, Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen, Norway, Sweden and the Nordics, Europe and beer all the way, the good nature of humanity, overcoming things, the Capuchin monks of Italy and Belgium and crafting beer in enchanting, candle-lit caverns, Bob Dylan, the WTF tragedy of Glycerine as a shitty ingredient in beer-making, Kingfishers, Tuborg Brewery's innovative bottle-top packaging, discovering Indian rum and scotch whiskeys. And finally, the heavenly world of Single Malts. Also, on "Survival Chinese", arriving in Beijing for the first time, festive memories from the 2008 Summer Olympics, random emails that changed everything, HouHai Lake District in Beijing, Shut Up, Just Drink (the best, small bar in Beijing, and possibly the world), drinking spurious Long Island Ice Teas (Chang Dao Bing Chas), drinking and riding scooters, almost dying many times, and being born again in China. Give peace a chance!
