December 2011
41 posts
Tonight, in a matter of 5 minutes, more than 10...
Chalk that up on the ridiculously long list of most embarrassing moments of my life. Somehow telling all of you is less embarrassing.
I've heard and read that until you get sick in...
Well, thanks for making it offish India, 5 hours before my flight. The burning vomiting couldn’t have been a better way to end the trip. You all are reading this as if I am being sarcastic but I’m not. The irony was way too perfect.
India - we’ll meet again someday. Until then, Namaste.
HOLY HEAVEN
So Omar set us up in a homestay with AN ACTUAL BED AND AN ACTUAL SHOWER. It was the PERFECT place to end my time in India. We had a car and a driver (well, kind of a driver because Ra jivv was stoned 95% of the time I’m pretty sure) and we were living a life of luxury.
The Taj Mahal
There really aren’t words to explain a building that took 20,000 people and 22 years to build, so I won’t try to find the words.
Instead, I’ll tell you that you should go. And you should watch the sunset and the sunrise on the Taj.
And, more importantly - you should find Asiif, our tour guide, and use him as your tour guide and then try to pack him in your bag and bring him...
I really hate to tell everyone this but on our way...
Agra!
We made it to Agra in the comfort of a spacious van, which was a wonderful change of pace and we are staying in a Home Stay which is AWESOME! We have a REAL bed, a bathroom big enough for a 10-person high school party and hot water (sort-of).
Omar sends a lot of clients here so I think he has a good hook up.
We went to the Taj Mahal last night around sunset but there is so much fog, there...
Conversations I've been a part of:
Me - “I’m cold!”
Strange Man - “I am hot. I will make you hot all by myself.”
Me - Awkward look.
Me - “I’m fine, how are you?”
Strange Man - “I’m fine, have a nice sleep.”
Me - “Thanks, good night!”
Strange Man - “I will see you in my dreams.”
Me - Awkward laugh.
Marlee and I sitting at the...
We made it back to Delhi safely after a night on a sleeper train - we actually had beds, or like a horizontal mat to sleep on.
I was so tired because we had gotten up at 3 AM and so I definitely got like 6 hours, even though it was a bit chilly. Marlee didn’t get much sleep though.
We were happy Omar sent a car to get us so we didn’t have to think. We met Niyaz and Omar and headed...
Sonny
We had Sonny promise to meet us back at the Temple at 7 PM to take us back to the railway station. He spoke about 3 words of English and really those words were mumbling until we could halfway understand each other, so it was a gamble whether he’d be back or not.
We waited for a few minutes where he dropped us but we were a little late so we thought he left. We had to grab our bags still...
Pakistan, Indian Border
After the Temple, we jumped in a shared taxi (shared means 6 people shoved into a space big enough for like 3), and headed to the border for the guard closing ceremony.
US citizens are “VIP” as are all foreigners and even though we didn’t have our passports, they believed us because I think it’d be impossible for me to not look foreign.
The guards basically have a high...
Amritsar
We decided to take the 5 AM bus from Dharmashala to Amritsar so we woke up around 3 AM and headed out. We got to Amritsar around 11 AM, after having sand bags, luggage, etc. thrown on our feet because there was space where we sat (since when is THAT okay?).
We made it and as soon as we got off the bus, the harassment began. It was probably the place we were most looked at. We managed to get on a...
Peace Restaurant
So, in Dharmashala, Marlee and I had breakfast at the same place every morning - the Peace Restaurant. The family that runs it is Korean and it was Mom, Dad, 5-7 year old girl, baby and GRANDPA! (my favorite). The family is a big reason why Marlee loved it so much and the food is wonderful as well.
Well, Sunday night we were kind of putting around and decided to take some chai so we popped in at...
I FORGOT TO MENTION HIS HOLINESS TOOK TEA...
Bhagsu Waterfall
Yesterday, we went on a little walk/hike up to a waterfall in the next town.
On the way, we saw lots of lambs, lots of monkeys, lots of cows and a couple of buildings under construction. The different floors were being held up by TREE BRANCHES.
Then, we got to Bhagsu and I hiked up a waterfall in the Himalaya’s. We went to the very top - higher than the waterfall even (it should be said...
The Dalai Lama
Today should be broken into 3 parts: Morning, Teachings, Exiting
Morning:
So, Marlee and I were up by 7 AM to get ready for the teachings. We were told to be there between 8 and 8:30. Well, we got there around 8:15 I’d guess. The teachings started at 9:30 but one of the highlights is seeing His Holiness enter.
Well, I am not kidding when I tell you there were thousands of people in one...
Things I have been spelling wrong:
Ram Gee or Jee however I spelled it, is Rab Gay
Macleod Ganj is McLeod Ganj
Dharmasala is Dharamshala
Just don’t want to be responsible for anyone repeating my mistakes and unknowingly seeming very ignorant.
Bullshit!
So we play a lot of cards here and I learned a new game from Buhran and Omar and also from Marlee who learned a game from Tashi.
Last night, we decided to teach them how to play Bullshit! Among the highlights:
Lots of giggling when they were caught lying
Tashi called Bullshit on the first card of the game, the Ace of Spades, which you HAVE to have in order to play. I trust you know he...
I have literally no idea how I forgot to blog...
The night before we left Delhi to go to Shimla, we went out for a couple beers. On the way from the office to the bar, in a car with 3 men, 30 years old, 28 years old and 20 something years old, 3 INDIAN MEN, we were bumping Justin Bieber LOUD AND PROUD. I am talking volume 100 if it exists. And, the best part is, it wasn’t even a song I know - that’s how big of fans they are.
...
Today I took my second shower of my trip.
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama
So, Marlee and I had originally planned to leave Dharmasala on Sunday to head to Amritsar, but when we were walking down to meet Ram Jee (her Tibetan friend) to circumambulate we ran into Carly (her British friend) who mentioned the Dalai Lama would be here Monday - Wednesday for teachings.
WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT ON MONDAY I AM GOING TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DALAI LAMA.
We went and...
Things Marlee has taught me (this may make for...
Before I begin, you should know I have never studied religion and because I don’t consider myself a religious person, have never really cared. Some things Marlee has taught me:
1) Most Indians are Hindu’s
2) The Dalai Lama is the religious leader for Buddhists and Tibetan Buddhists in particular, which is why there are so many Tibetan refugees in Macleod Ganj because this is where...
Samir
So, Marlee has some awesome shawl’s that she bought when she was in Dharmasala before she came to meet me in Delhi. Her friend Samir, who is 14, sold them to her at a very good price and she always came to him bearing gifts, particularly in the form of chocolate. So, when we got here I wanted to check them out.
Samir told Marlee he works in the shop and his family owns it - but they are...
Mount View
Apparently there is one place to be in Dharmasala at night and apparently that place is Mount View.
It is a bar with a DJ so after everyone has had a few drinks they start dancing and let me tell you, these Tibetans are talented at many things but dancing is not one of them.
There is a weird amount of homo-eroticism going on where men are kind of air humping along together. In fact, you hardly...
Om mani padme hum
This is the Tibetan Buddhist mantra - meaning open the lotus flower which means open your heart.
They will chant this over and over and over and over.
It’s prounounced “Ohm, ma-nee, pod-may, hooommee” That’s the best I got. Give it a shot.
Circumambulate
I am officially a Buddhist. Okay, not really.
Yesterday Marlee and I circumambulated around the Dalai Lama’s monestary. Tibetan Buddhists due it 3 times so we did the same, you know, just to be legit Buddhists and all.
So I just want to let everyone know now that I will be coming back to Dharmasala one day - hopefully at the end of the Summer to volunteer with Volunteer in India doing conversation class and with the Hope Center.
Just wanted it to be known. Good talk.
Friday, I spent an hour helping a Tibetan monk learn English.
And, I feel like I don’t need to say anything else there.
Shimla to Dharamsala
We booked a night train from Shimla to Dharamsala for 415 rupees each - less than $10 bucks. We left at 9:30. Marlee said the last train she was on was freezing which freezing has become pretty standard to me here so I put on leggings under my capri work-out pants and grey socks (over my other socks) over those leggings. I looked like an idiot. I wore 2 scarves and a sweatshirt with long-sleeve...
Gajenda!!! My MAN!
So, we were walking aimlessly down the street and this man looks over at me and says, “Are you from America?” Apparently he could tell from my accent.
He started talking to me and while I can’t remember exactly what he said, it was something about reading people through their eyes and something made me want to talk to him.
To all you skeptics out there… I never have...
Shimla
We arrived after an incredible sunset and a long day of traveling. A very nice couple who was on the toy train with us, rescued us from all of the Kashmiri people harassing us and we jumped in the cab with them and ended up staying, not only in the same hotel as them, but directly across the hall (I think they may have planned that).
We were excited to be in a warm bed and I was excited to...
Delhi to Shimla, with a pit stop in Kalka.
We made it to our train safely with no delays and off we were to Kalka. I slept for a few minutes and read mostly (I am reading Sarah’s Key, recommended by my step mom Susan who read it from a recommendation from my sister Amber and I am now recommending it to all of you).
We made it to Kalka with relative ease and found out toy train to Shimla. Well, riding the toy train has been one of...
Who Are You?
Our second night, the night our train was delayed, we went to bed around midnight. We played cards all night, of course, because Burahn and I can’t lose (that’s why he loves me) and even though we had to get up at 4 AM, it didn’t matter. We slept out in the living room? (I guess you’d call it that) and right around midnight someone knocked on the door.
Marlee opens the...
Squat toilet - things I don't like talking...
So Niyaz’s house has a squat toilet and while this is among things I don’t think should ever be discussed out loud… I will make an exception.
Right before we were getting to bed our first night (around 1 AM - I made it so long!!! Which was GREAT for jet lag), Marlee was peeing and all of a sudden I hear this bang, bang, bang, bang, plop. I reluctantly said “What was...
Transportation Stories (I have a lot so FQ will be...
Farrukh tells a lot of transportation stories that generally have no point. I realized that when I am traveling, I tend to do so as well, but I like to think they have a point. If they don’t, please don’t tell me. I can’t bare the thought that I am boring people as much as he bores us with his stories (we and I still love him though, it’s part of his “charm” if...
If you don't want to travel... don't.
At Red Fort, first of all - Marlee and I took more pictures with strangers than we did of the actual fort or with each other. We made it maybe 5 feet at a time before someone else wanted a photograph. Flattering and very sweet but also very frsutrating.
We came across a guy who walked up to us and asked if we were from the States. We said yes and he told us he was traveling in India but he was...
Delhi
Our day in Delhi was… interesting.
We woke up around 8:30 and Marlee began packing up all of her things (she had been staying at Niyaz’s for a few days so she had unpacked quite a bit), we got groceries for Niyaz and Burahn helped us get a rickshaw (small cart type thing used as a cab kind of).
We went to the office (travel agency) to take care of some things and drop our stuff. I...
Namaste!
I arrived safely in New Delhi! Marlee picked me up with Sa-Chin, a man who is a driver for the travel agency she works with - Perfect Holiday Travel. She is friends with all the guys who work at the agency.
We went to her friend Ulmer’s (Omar’s) place where we stayed. Just a little image for you:
We sat around the floor with our kitchen table (like a picnic cloth), ate a delicious...
Note to all flight attendants:
If you are cleaning up trays from a meal and you happen to spill yogurt on someone, especially if it wasn’t there yogurt to begin with, do not try cleaning it off for them. Especially when that person is wearing a v-neck t-shirt and the yogurt spilled down their chest. Because, hypothetically speaking, that could get really awkward.
Sincerely,
An Awkward Passenger
Flight to New Delhi is full, complete with lots of Indian people traveling home, more than one Turban and yours truly (the token white girl!)
The first guy I met couldn’t be more stereotypical - he lives in San Fran, is traveling home for the first time in 2 and 1/2 years and, drum roll… He’s a software engineer.
Hello instant intellectual inferiority, nice to see you again!...
And so my trek to India begins!
After lots of lectures from Lisa and FQ, of course, about how to pack, living life to the fullest, etc. You know, the usual.
Just saw an image on Pintetest of a woman running that read: “Never underestimate the strength of a woman. Don’t f*** with one who runs 26.2 miles for fun.”
I LOL’ed.