March 16th, 2009

When I woke up this morning at 6 with my roommate Meriel, we both showered and got our bags ready for the day.  We headed outside to go to breakfast and were both shocked at what we saw.  Because we had arrived when it was dark last night we didn’t really get to see the beauty of where our hotel was.  The hotel was surrounded by gorgeous green mountains.  I don’t think I have ever seen so much green in my life perhaps besides Mauritius; Thailand was more of a tropical jungle feel every where you looked. 

 

After breakfast we got on a bus and were told we would have a 2 and half our drive to our destination where we ride elephants, do a little hiking, and some canoeing.  Although the 2 and half hours turned into slightly over three and it was boiling hot inside the bus.   I think on my bus alone we had two girls get motion sickness.  The large group of us got split into two groups: group A and B.  Jeff, Linds K., Lauren (my new friend who goes to UCSB), and Bobby (another new friend I made on the bus ride) were all in group b so I didn’t really get to see them much.  But Erica and Shaena (she was on my India trip) were in group A with me so I had a few friends to hang out with. 

 

Once we arrived after the very long drive through what seemed like miles and miles of jungle we stepped off the bus into the middle of the jungle with a few huts surrounding us.  With in group A we were split up again into three groups, luckily Shaena and I were in the same group so we could ride the canoe’s and elephant together. 

 

My group first went on a 30 minute canoe ride, we had someone to paddle us so it was very relaxing to sit and take in all the surroundings.  The scenery was beautiful and we stopped every now and then to listen to sounds, while our tour guide showed us fig trees, bamboo, and frogs in the trees. 

 

After our canoe ride we then had a beautiful lunch in a hut, where we then put our scraps in a bucket for the cats in the area to eat.  Once everyone was done with lunch we were next going on our ELEPHANT RIDE!! Shaena and I were the first to go.  It wasn’t what I expected and I thought we would be sitting right on top of the elephant although there were seats almost like a saddle that had been strapped down to the elephant.  For about another 30 or so minutes we traveled through the jungle atop our elephant enjoying the lovely scenery.  I never realized what silly and slow creatures elephants were.  When we got back from our elephant ride we were able to buy a basket of fruit to feed the elephants.  Besides the fact that I was standing in the jungle in Thailand this was my FAVORITE part of my day.  I bought a basket of fruit for Shaena and I to share.  We started feeding the elephants and its trunk came right out to me like a vacuum I could here it trying to reach for the fruit in my hand until I reached out handing it to its trunk.  The elephant then grabbed it ate in a quick second and stuck his trunk right out again.  For the next ten minutes we took pictures and fed the elephants.  It was funny to see that each elephant had a personality.  One elephant didn’t like the pineapple and would spit it out immediately while another elephant hated bananas and refused them as well.  I was bummed when our basket was empty but was ready for the next part of our adventure in the jungle.

 

After the elephants we got in the bus for a quick 5 minutes that dropped us off at a trail head where we were going to go on a 30 minute hike through the jungle and to look at the rubber trees and see how the locals use them.  Before our hike could begin though we had to cross a river on a bamboo boat that we used a rope to pull ourselves across the river one.  Only about 8 of us could go on the bamboo boat at a time to keep it afloat.  While I waited my turn on the bamboo boat there was 10 butterflies surrounding some nearby flowers so I took a few quick photos, before getting on the bamboo boat.  Once across the river we started out treck.  At th is point it was getting very hot and were all drenched in sweat.  After a short walk we ended up at one of the rubber trees where our guide showed us how they collect the rubber to be used later for all kinds of goods.  On our walk back to the bus we had to cross the river one more time although this time there was no bamboo boat so we had to take our shoes off and cross the river on foot.  This was such a great and unique experience like everything else I had done today. 

 

It was perfect timing as we were getting on the bus to head back to Phuket and our hotel we were hit with a rainstorm.  I think only 30 seconds after I sat down on the bus it started to rain the hardest I have seen it rain this entire voyage.  It was actually a really nice ending to such a beautiful day to drive back through the jungle and see the rain hitting all the green trees, it truly made me feel like I was in the tropical jungle experiencing a surprise monsoon.  The bus ride back was also soothing with the rain and was much cooler than our ride there so thankfully nobody got motion sickness on the way back. 

 

When we got back to the hotel Erica, Carolyn, and I met up with Cally (my roommate from India) Linds K., Hollis, and Emily for dinner.  There was a large group of people going to get Mexican food which sounded amazing but we decided that a smaller group would be best for getting our dinner out fast.  So we made our way up the street from our hotel and again found a restaurant outside to sit and enjoy dinner.  I ate a meal out of a pineapple which was amazing I believe it was fried rice with chicken but my plate was a pineapple it may have been better than the pad thai I had last night. 

 

After a nice dinner with the girls we kept walking up to Patong street to meet up with all the kids who had gone to get Mexican food, Kelsey, Eric and Andy (a group of kids who go to Boulder and other SAS kids).  We finally made it onto Patong and again walked the street amazed at the many prostitutes, dancers, and people louring us to go to what they called a “ping pong show” or a sex show.  We first went to a few bars alongside the street, then a club to do some dancing, where Kelsey and I met two guys from Austria.  One of them even bought me a rose, they were really nice.  I also met a woman from Australia me and her instantly clicked and hung out laughing and talking for a while, we even exchanged email addresses to keep in touch and exchange the couple pictures we took on her camera together.  When we finally left the dance club it was pretty late and were heading back to the hotel.  Although the boys convinced a few of us girls to go into a Go Go dance club with them, what I assume looks like a strip club in the U.S.  The only reason us girls said okay was because it was Erics 21^st birthday.  After the Go Go show we went into one last place where we were told there would be a ping pong show.  I was really nervous but curious at the same time.  We went in and again it looked similar to what I would think a strip club in the U.S. would look like although they were setting up things for the show!  A waiter came up and showed us the drink menu it was 500 baht for a beer which is about 15 dollars and Kelsey. Courtney (goes to Boulder and I met her in India)   and I decided we would leave because we didn’t want to pay 15 dollars to watch a show we weren’t too excited to see to begin with.  I heard a few things from the boys when they came out of the show and was actually glad I didn’t stay. 

 

We finally made our way back to the hotel and to bed to wake up at 6:30 tomorrow morning for a  day of canoeing through caves. 

March 15th, 2009

This morning after getting to watch the sunrise for the first time ever on the ship, I did a small work out with Dylan before eating breakfast and then taking a shower to get ready for the day.  Today we arrived in Thailand!! The SAS trip I was going on got off the ship first at about 9:30.  We then took a two hour drive to the Bangkok airport to take our flight to Phuket.  We were at the airport and at the gate four hours early.  We were all confused why it was necessary for us to all get off the ship firs then.  But either way I bought a book at the airport and did some reading while I was waiting for our plane.  Erica, Jeff and I also maybe did a little exploring of the airport on the walking sidewalks while attempting to moonwalk to pass the time. 

 

By the time we arrived at our hotel it was dark and time for dinner.  Everything we needed was in walking distance from our hotel which was nice.  I felt as though I was maybe in Hawaii everything was very tropical and resort like, and we definitely weren’t the only tourists walking around.  So Erica, her roommate for the trip Carolyn and I decided to walk down the street and find a Thai restaurant to eat at.  We walked maybe two block and noticed that there would be a night life in phuket.  It was nine o’clock and there were street vendors, spas, massage parlors and many restaurants open. 

 

After about ten minutes of walking and stopping to look at clothes and other things street sellers had, we came across a restaurant called the Oasis.  The price was good and it had outside seating so we could enjoy the warmth in the air as well as all that was going on around us.  The three of us each ordered pad thai a must in Thailand!!! It was sooo good and we enjoyed a long dinner talking and enjoying our food. 

 

After dinner we decided to do a loop around the town, we had a map and knew that the main street we were told had clubs and bars met up with the street were on and that we could essentially walk in a circle to get back to our hotel.  We weren’t that tired and wanted to explore a little more.  So we continue up the street to only find what I guess I could describe as a swap meet although they are open every day and until 2 am.  We walked up and down each isle, looking at dresses, shirts, cds, dvds, knock off sunglasses, purses, and much more.  Although in the center of the market there was a circle of bars out in the open.  I was surprised to see the bars although after a while it seemed normal and I realized we were in such a big tourist area it kind of made sense. 

 

In Thailand it was the first time people weren’t really sure where we were from, which was a nice surprise! Most people thought we were from Australia, or maybe even French.  If we said we were from America they said north or south and if you said north they said Canada?? I think everyone really enjoyed this because it was the first time we weren’t labeled as being American right away, which seems to not have the best stigma associated with it.  At the end of the night I started going along with it and pretended I was Australian getting to practice my Summer Heights High accent. 

 

We finally made it around to the main street or “Patong Street”.  This street was blocked off the cars and was basically 4 or so blocks of bars, clubs, go gos and I am not sure what you would call them perhaps strip clubs with sex shows?? The street was also lined with prostitutes up and down the street.  We walked down the street in awe of everything going on around us.  It was like a mini Vegas/ Amsterdam redlight district all wrapped together.  It was really sad to see the number of girls who were prostitutes and looked so young, going off with really old white men.  While walking down the street I even overheard a negotiation going on between a man and two women.  The one older woman is the woman who looks over the girls and negotiates things for them.  The girl who was the prostitue looked so young and it was a sad and disturbing sight to witness all this.  We continued walking down the street taking in everything and decided tonight we would just head back to the hotel, although not after buying a CREPE!!! ( yes a crepe they were all over the place being sold by street venrdors).  We then had go to sleep as we have to be awake at 6:00 tomorrow morning and we were slightly overwhelmed with the many things we saw on Patong Street. 

March 14th, 2009

Tomorrow we will be in Thailand!!! I am extremely excited and cant wait to see what I imagine is one of the most beautiful places in the world.  I will be gong to Bangkok and Phuket, Jeff, Erica, Erica ( from my Morocco trip), Linds. K, and some other people I know are all going.  It should be a great trip and we seem to have a lot of free time which will be nice to see Bangkok on our own and enjoy the beaches of Phuket. 

 

I must tell you all that, between the next four countries I am visiting I only have two days between each of them.  You may have noticed how long it has taken me to write my India blog and that it may not be as detailed as my previous ones.  Although India was a difficult place to reflect upon and write about.  I hope to be able to write my blogs in as much detail as possible but due to only having two days they may not seem as insightful or full of detail.  Sorry.  But I will do my best. 

March 8th, 2009

This morning we woke up at 4:15 to take a train to Agra to see the Taj Mahal!!! Although we did leave about 30 minutes late because a good number of people on the trip went out to the club and bars last night and may have over slept.  Everything was fine though and we made out train on time and for the two and half ours I think all 70 of us slept.

 

When we arrived in Agra we got on a bus and took about an hour or so drive to “the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by Emperor Akbar as his capital to honor a Muslim saint who prophesied the birth of an heir.  Its red sandstone palaces are still in a remarkable state of preservation.” When we arrived at the palace we were again greeted with many men with anklets, postcards, and necklaces for sale.  We took about an hour tour of the beautiful palace.  We then were all pretty drained from traveling and being in the sun and heat from the palace so we went to a hotel where we had a buffet set up for lunch.  After lunch we were all revived and had energy to see a few markets before moving on to see that Taj Mahal.  We first arrived at fort that was about a ten minute drive away from the Taj Mahal our tour guide took us to a spot that over looked the Taj Mahal.  I didn’t believe it was real and that I was actually looking at and would very soon be at the Taj Mahal.  We took some pictures and were ready to go!! At this point we have become pros at walking through the streets and only talking to those people selling things you actually want to buy we have become really good at bargaining as well. 

 

We finally arrived at the gates of the Taj Mahal, “the 17^th century mosoleum in white marble built by mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal.  It is an architectural marvel remarkable for its perfect symmetry of design and construction.”  When I arrived at the Taj I wasn’t sure what to expect but was excited and couldn’t wait to get in.  We went through security and I saw a few girls get their “thank you mom and dad” signs taken away so I quickly hid mine in my purse.  We walked through and finally I had my first glimpse of the Taj there were people everywhere but it didn’t matter this building infront of me was so amazingly beautiful it was unlike anything I have ever seen and such a contradiction to everything I had already seen in this country.  We all took pictures of us holding the Taj with our fingers and many others.  We slowly made our way closer and closer about every ten feet stopping to take a different picture.  When we got closer to the Taj but farther from the guards at the beginning of the entrance I quickly took out my sign and had Jen take a picture.  Jen goes to boulder and knows Tricia my roommate from last semester from high school.   We took more pictures as we got closer and were finally waiting in line to enter the building.  We put our booties over our shoes (like we were going on a house tour) and were finally inside.  I have never seen pictures of the inside of the taj and you are not aloud to take pictures so I had to no idea what to expect.  It was dark inside and it looked the same as the outside of the building with some colored stones places in designs.  It was extremely crowded inside and very hot.  Everything in the taj mahal is symmetrical expect for the tombs in the inside, one tomb is larger than the other.  We spent the rest of our time at the taj looking at it from different angles and sitting enjoying the scenery.  I found the girls and was able to hang out with them as the sun set and take a few pictures with them. Jen and I even took a picture for Tricia making a T with our hands! I finally took my last look at the Taj Mahal which was a weird feeling I didn’t want to leave I could look at it all day and probably again the next.   As the sun was setting it was time for us to get back to our meeting spot get on our bus, head back to the hotel for dinner and then back to the train and back to our other hotel to end the night.  I was able to buy a few souvenir gifts for some people before returning to the bus.  When I got to the bus we sat waiting for everyone and people continued buying things.  Although while on the bus we did see a disturbing scene, there were boys about maybe 10 years old selling souvenirs outside the gate.  We then noticed a man take the money from him hit him with a stick and shoo him on his way.  It was like a scene straight out of slumdog, we even saw some street fenders get in a very physical fight that a guard had to stop and beat people away with his stick. 

 

Our train was slightly late and while we waited some people started buying the little beggar children food.  As much as I wanted to I kept thinking that something was off.  The little kids who would take the food weren’t eating it right away like they were starving and needed it, they were gathering in their clothes and packing it away.  After they seemed to be full of things given to them by some of the students it seemed as though they heard someone yell or some thing that startled them and they all ran off.  I didn’t understand it but it didn’t feel right someone was using this kids and I wasn’t happy about it.  Me and one of the guys gave two girls each a scarf we had got for free from our hotel and I knew I shouldn’t have because I may be supporting something instead of helping them.  But to see the smile on the little girls face when I put the scarf in her hand made me feel as though I wasn’t heartless, to say no to every single person who asked for something.

 

 On our train ride back to Agra, two semester at sea boys who were traveling independently were on our train.  Once of them sat with me and we talked for the entire two hours and he told me all of his stories. He was able to talk for the complete two hours and tell me so many different things he experienced and the people he encountered.  I became jealous I didn’t seem to have the same experience he had and I didn’t feel I got a sense of the culture as much as he did.  Although he did agree it would have been very hard to travel independently as a girl in India and feel safe.  I think I have come to realize I cant have an amazing experience in every country and that India may have just been such a culture shock to me I wasn’t sure how to process it and it may not hti me for a while.  I am still going through all the emotions I felt while I was there as well as all the things I saw and trying to understand them.

 

 We finally made it back to the hotel where I went straight to bed because I was starting to get a cold but most people I believe went out to the club downstairs.  I was bummed I was missing the fun but didn’t want to be sick for our next month of travel that is very busy.  I was also very tired from all of the traveling. 

 

 

March 9th, 2009

This morning we woke up at 5:30 had breakfast at the hotel and then headed to the airport to go back to Chennai and back on the ship.  Many people on the trip never went to sleep or went to sleep for about an hour because they were at the club all night.  It seemed like fun and I heard that it was the nicest club in Delhi, but I was starting to feel worse with my cold and knew I had done the right thing staying in.  Again we had to wait for about 45 minutes for people running late, but we made it to the airport on time and on the plane. 

 

We finally made it back to Chennai and the ship around 1.  I would normally head back off the ship to explore the city and do some shopping.  Although this time I wasn’t feeling well, was extremely tired from traveling, and didn’t want to spend too much more money shopping and that was what I thought I might do with my time if I got off the ship. 

 

India was such a great experience but like I have said I am still unsure of my feelings and thoughts.  There is so much to reflect on and I don’t know what to take away from my visit.  By the time we got back to the ship it was like a sign of relief and like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  I know see how many people in this world need help and that taking a day out of your weekend to help others can go a long way. 

 

In my service learning class we have been discussing service projects from the beginning and most recently discussing India.  We came to a conclusion that the change we will see in ourselves from visiting this country may not come right away but slowly we will see the change and the things we saw and did we will never forget.

March 7th, 2009

This morning we woke up at 4:45 to head back to the Ganges River and watch the sunrise as well as witness the cremation ceremonies that take place all day everyday alongside the river.  We took our bus once again as close as possible and walked the rest of the way to the river.  We were let out of our bus on some random street it was still pitch black and hard to see anything but as soon as we were out of our bus at least 5 people were surrounding us trying to sell us things.  I was surprised to see so many people awake and walking through the street with us it was as if they never went to sleep.  Also while walking down the street making our way down to the river we passed numerous people sleeping on the ground.  It was an weary and exciting feeling walking through the street in pitch black darkness, the city seemed so peaceful and since it was dark you couldn’t see the poverty in full light or things around you so you could enjoy the feeling of being in India! 

 

We ended up at the top of those same stairs we had walked down the night before although this time there wasn’t the hundreds of beggars lining them.  There in fact were only about 50 or so people trying to sell us things.  As we headed down the stairs towards our boat the city was very calm, and beautiful.  It was just starting to get light out and the colors of the buildings were beautiful.  While we were waiting to board the boat I noticed a man signing to some of the girls in front of me I think they thought he was trying to sell them something but he only had two things in his hand and wasn’t talking.  I kept watching and noticed that he seemed to be deaf.  I looked at him and watched his hand signals I realized now what he was trying to tell the girls.  He was trying to tell them that the sun would rise at 7 am, he wasn’t even trying to sell them anything he just seemed to be friendly and to want to talk.  His eyes were very kind and friendly, he helped me on the boat and I didn’t think I would ever see him again. 

 

We split the group of about 70 of us into two different boats.  Once on the boat we each bought a flower and candle from a young boy who came on our boat.  We were told to place them in the water to send away bad spirits and that we could also make a wish.  After we bought them I noticed everyone still sitting and not placing them in the water.  A few minutes later I looked down and realized my candle was almost out and the only two other things between my hand and the flame were made of paper.  Soon the paper the wax was on caught on fire quickly I got nervous and kind of tossed it in the water.  Jeff laughed at me and yelled “You didn’t even make a wish!” haha I was just thankful my hand wasn’t on fire.  We slowly paddled around the river enjoying the scenery.  As we were paddling we noticed that there were people entering the water or bathing?  This is something that happens every morning people come to bath in the holy water of the Ganges to begin their day.  I cant count the many number of people we saw bathing in the river that I was told to not even touch because I may get a parasite with all the pollution and even ashes being dumped in the water only a few hundred feet down the shore.  It was amazing to watch and see these people, bath, worship and wash their clothes in this river that is so sacred to them and yet seemed so polluted to me.

 

 We sat and watched the sunrise before getting closer to the cremation ceremonies that were taking place not to far from where we were.  The sunrise had to be one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen to look out around me and where I was, knowing what this river meant to so many people and witnessing this sunrise that seemed fake it was that beautiful.  Like I have said India has some of the most beautiful sites and colors in the world amongst some of the poorest and dirtiest areas I couldn’t imagine ever existed.  India really is a “land of contradictions”.  As we sat watching the sunrise we looked up to some of the buildings to see monkeys jumping from building to building.  Also while sitting enjoying this moment I was experiencing I noticed two boats float up next to ours and two men were trying to sell us souvenirs.  I honestly don’t think these men ever give up, their determination to sell us these items is remarkable.  They held on next to us for what felt like 5 minutes with everyone ignoring them finally someone caved in and bought something causing a train reaction of everyone wanting something.  Although after that they wouldn’t leave us alone and stayed attached to our boat until we were back ashore.  I felt bad for the two men rowing our boat and having to pull along these other to boats as well. 

 

After everyone bought a few things from these men we were pulling up to the place where the cremations took place.  It was not as intense as I thought.  It looked like a small fire although the body parts resembled logs, our guide informed us it can take up to for 45 hours for the body to completely burn.  Family members were gathered around the fire with the men close and the women standing back watching from a distance.  There were a few other bodies placed on the stairs near the fire covered with an orange sheet waiting to be placed in the fire.  We were told that the bodies must be burned soon after the person has died so many people travel to Varanasi and wait to die.  This way they are here and ready to be placed into the holy river.  The ritual to me was very sacred and was full of tradition.  I loved the idea of it and at the same time felt rude for being a witness to someone’s body being burned, I was watching a funeral of someone I didn’t know. 

 

When we got to the shore, again we were greeted by the many many young boys and men trying to sell us trinkets and things.  I was surprised to see the deaf man who had been so kind helping me onto our boat earlier in the morning.  As we started winding through the small ally ways to get back to our bus, the deaf man walked with me.  He didn’t try to sell me the bindi’s or post cards in his hand.  He was just my own personal tour guide (although I was still following our tour guide as well) through the small streets telling me which way to turn to watch out for things on the floor or things I may hit my head on.  I  noticed that our group wasn’t really following our tour guide and got left behind but I was so interested in talking with this man I kept following and knew the group would catch up or were following our other tour guide.  As we walked for about 20 minutes up and down these allies.  The man gestures and asked me all kinds of questions, as well as helping me through the streets moving cows out of my way, telling me to watch my head, and even pointing out cow poop so I didn’t step in it.  He asked me how old was, if I was married, if I drank, when I got there, when I was leaving, if I smoked,  and if I was religious to name a few questions.  I would answer and ask him the same questions.  After about 15 minutes I was able to slowly catch up to Jeff who I knew spoke a little sign language.  Jeff than came back to join me and the man in the rest of our walk.  Jeff was able to find out his name was Moyun and that he had lost his hearing when he was three.   Moyun also asked Jeff if I was his girlfriend, and when he wanted to get married.  We finally ended up on the main street where we thought we were waiting for our bus but there was only about 20 of us we weren’t sure where the rest of the group was and neither did our tour guide.  He sent a random man on a motorcycle to go around another direction to look for them.  About ten minutes later we found out where the group and bus was.  Moyun still this entire time stood talking with Jeff and I, making fun of my about 30 bug bites on my calves and ankles.  Throughout our walk I had bought his postcards from him that looked like he had been carrying them for weeks but I was happy to buy something from him.  Moyun stayed with us until we were on the bus and waved us off. 

 

Now looking back on my entire trip in India, I have realized that the best conversation and experience with an Indian person was with Moyun.  He took the time to talk to me and not sell me something.  He was a truly kind hearted person and you could see it in his eyes.  He was the one person I met who seemed to be of a lower cast who opened up and wanted to get to know me not because I was a dollar sign to him but to just get to know me. 

 

We then left Moyun and headed back to our hotel to pack our bags and get ready to fly back to Delhi.  Before our flight though we had a few more stops to make.  First we stopped at Sarnath, the ruins of the ancient city where the Buddha preached his first sermon.  “It is as holy to Buddhists as varanasi is to hindus.  When we arrived we were told to take our off our shoes to enter the building.  Donations of around a dollar were required to take pictures inside.  I this time decided to not take pictures and to just enjoy it.  It was very small inside but at the far end of the building was a very large gold Buddha.  We then walked a few hundred feet across a courtyard to see the “tree” that Buddha sat under when he became enlightened.  About 60 years ago the tree died and they had to replant a replica tree.  But to still stand in that spot was really cool and surrounding the area in which the tree was incased were Buddhist prayer flags.  They represent the earth, sky, wind, and I can’t remember what else.  They are blue, red, white, green, and yellow.  We then left that site and moved onto to see the stupa and ruins of an ancient monastery only a short walk down the road.  Again I wish we had a better tour guide to walk with me and tell me the stories of the places I was looking at.  While I understood basically what they were I was walking around enjoying myself but not really understanding what I was looking at. 

 

Next we made our way to the airport, where we had some lunch before boarding our plane back to Delhi.  When we arrived in Delhi we didn’t have much time to do anything so we took a driving tour of the city.  We got to see the ceremonial avenue, parliament house, and the official residence of the president of India (whom is the first woman president of India although she doesn’t have as much of a political role as the prime minister).  We were able to make one stop at the Birla Temple.  It was very large and beautiful but modern.  We once again took our shoes off and were given a tour of the temple.  We saw the many different places to pray to the various gods and learned what gods you pray to for certain things.  Our guide told us that you always first pray to Ganesha (my favorite god who is in the form of an elephant) you pray to him first as he is said to be good luck.   Finally by around 8 we finally made it to our hotel.

 

Our hotel was amazing and seemed like a resort with its own clubs, bars, hooka bars, restaurants, spas and so on.  It was so nice we were all shocked but very excited.  We were greeted with a string of flowers placed around our neck at the door.  After we figured out our room Jeff, the Ryans and I met downstairs for dinner.  Dinner was great and we still weren’t too tired so we decided to explore the hotel.  The boys wanted to find some cigars so we went into a café in the hotel so they could find them.  I started talking with one of the chefs who said he was new on staff and one of the youngest, but that he had heard great things about the SAS students who had stayed at the hotel in the past.  He seemed just as excited for us to be there as we were.  As I was waiting for the boys to pick out the cigars, I started to do what I do in a lot of places I started dancing with my feet (kind of like different ballet positions and what not)  If you know me you know this happens often and I don’t realize I am doing it.  Well the chef and a waitress both noticed and asked if I danced, I was embarrassed but said yes.  He told me he was a dancer and gave me a little demonstration of the Indian dance he does.  It was nice because in my dance class on the ship for my final presentation I am doing the Baranthyum (an Indian dance) with my group.  I told him and he seemed impressed that on the ship I am learning things like that.  We finished up our conversation as the boys got their cigars and we continued to explore the hotel.  The boys decided to go to the hooka bar but I was tired and ready for bed because tomorrow we would be waking up at 4:15!

 

 

March 6th, 2009

This morning I woke up at 2:45 to get gather all my things and be in the union by 3:15.  Surprisingly everyone showed up and we were ready to go we all grabbed our box breakfasts and headed off the ship at about 3:45 to the get on the bus to the airport.  I got on the bus with Jeff and the Ryan’s.  But one of the Ryans couldn’t find his Ship ID which you have to swipe whenever getting on or off the ship.  So we all got on the bus and waited for him.  After about 15 minutes we all couldn’t imagine he was still looking for it so we started asking people and found out that some kid took off running about a minute ago and they thought it might be Ryan (keep in mind Ryan has a swollen sprained ankle from playing volleyball in the sea Olympics).  I didn’t really believe it was him running because there were four huge busses right at the end of the gangway you couldn’t miss.  So we pulled away and decided to leave without him so we could make our flight.  On our way out of the port we were almost to the gate and Ryan came up running next to the bus.  Come to find out it was him that took off running apparently he didn’t see the buses and thought we already left him and took off running but he ran in the wrong direction luckily he made to the bus and didn’t miss out on the trip.  So now we were all ready to go to the airport and fly to Delhi. 

 

As we were driving through the city at 4 in the morning most people were talking or sleeping.  I sat looking out the window to see what the city looked like at night.  It was amazing to me to see how many people were sleeping on the ground and how many people were awake walking around, driving, or doing other various things.  We came to this round about where we were stopped and I looked out the window to see a small dirt area where about 200 hundred people or so seemed to be sleeping on the ground covered in blankets.  The bus was still full of chatters as my heart was breaking at the many many people on the ground as I was in a bus and about to get on a plane.  As I sat taking in the moment a woman woke up and sat up to breastfeed her baby.  This hit me hard that there was a baby born into nothing and at a few months old was already sleeping out in the filth and litter of the city.  I thought about that baby’s life to come and where it would be in a few years and realized probably not any better off than he was now.  (Since I am now writing this after returning from India I had a discussion in a class and some girl justified this by saying that all people in India believed in karma and that they are fine with the way they are living because it is their karma and what they deserve because of something they have done in a past life)   This too didn’t sit with me well because while I understand it and it seems like a good idea if you can’t remember your past life and just remember the present how fair is it to you to live in this manner because of a past life you never knew. 

 

We continued on our way to the airport and got on a 2 and half our flight to Delhi switched planes and took about an hour flight to Varanasi.  Both of our flights were very nice and probably better than any flight I have taken in the U.S.  I sat next to this guy named Penn who is from boulder and goes to UVA.    We then took an hour or so bus ride I believe to our hotel.  As we drove Varanasi wasn’t as developed as Chennai and seemed more rural.  The streets weren’t as well paved but the streets were still packed with people I couldn’t believe our big tour bus was making it around the streets without hitting someone.  Then all of a suddent we pulled up a street after seeing shack after shack, store front after store front, beggar after beggar, and cow after cow to see our beautiful hotel.  It was a very nice hotel amongst such a poor city.  Our room was huge with two full beds a TV with cable, and a really nice bathroom.  The hotel had a bar and a swimming pool.  When I looked out the window of my hotel I could see the hotel pool and on the other side of the fence a person’s home that looked like it was barely standing.  You truly can see one extreme to the next right next to each other in India. 

 

After getting settled in our hotel we went to the oldest silk factory in the state I believe.  Or at least we went to one of the few places left where people are using the old machines and hand crafting silk.  We got to see how the machines work and meet the men who use them.  It is amazing how much time it can take to only do ten centimeters in some cases that much fabric can take up to a day which is why it is so expensive.  After they showed us a demonstration we went into the show room and the salesman started laying out fabrics all over the room just as the man had yesterday in his shop.  Everyone started shopping around and since I had already bought scarves I sat back and watched, then I noticed him start showing duvet covers.  I didn’t really see one I loved kept my eye open, I finally noticed one that I could live without and had to purchase it.  When I went to buy it thought my credit card wasn’t being accepted, I was bummed but knew I would live without the duvet cover.  I only mention this part of the story to tell you how nice and trusting the people I met were.  One of our tour guides offered to buy the duvet cover for me and then he would later take me to an ATM where I would pay him back.  I only hoped my ATM card worked, because he was being so generous and kind.  So I was able to get my fabulous duvet cover from one of the oldest silk factories in the state it was definitely a great purchase with an amazing story behind it.  After the silk factory everyone was extremely hungry so we went back to the hotel for some lunch before doing a little more shopping at what our tour guides said would be a market. 

 

Lunch at the hotel was good a little more chicken curry, rice, noodles and Indian bread.  After lunch we then took a walk to what we thought would be a market.  First we walked into this building and were told to check out the downstairs.  When we entered the room there was potato sacks all over the room at first I wasn’t sure what were looking at but then I noticed a small group of men and women sitting on the floor making jewelry.  I then looked inside the bags and noticed they were filled with beads.  We said hi to the people and watched them do their work the jewelry they were making was very beautiful.  Then someone noticed something they looked inside a box where they saw packages for Macy’s with earnings in them that looked like the earrings the men in front of us were making.  We all stared at each other not really wanting to believe that the jewelry being sold in Macy’s was coming from these people sitting on the ground in the basement of a building in very poor conditions.  We then went upstairs to look at what they kept calling a market to find one of the most colorful and big jewelry stores I have ever seen in my life.  I was so overwhelmed with beads, bracelets, necklaces and earrings I couldn’t even buy one because I couldn’t choose so instead I took pictures of all the amazing colors I was looking at.  I then finally made it to the ATM where I could pay back my very generous tour guide. 

 

We then all came back to the hotel to get ready for our rickshaw ride to Varanasi and the ceremonies that take place every night on the shores of the Ganges River.  We took our bus through the city and turned into what looked like a park where over a 100 rickshaw drivers with their bikes were waiting for us.

 

 We stepped out of the bus and Jeff and I picked our rickshaw driver and took our seats.  The seat was very small me and Jeff barely fit both of us in it.  My butt was slightly off the seat and I don’t think either of us were comfortable but we were excited for the ride through the city in a rickshaw rather than a huge bus.  Our rickshaw driver didn’t speak much English but was very nice and very thin I wasn’t sure he would be able to pull both Jeff and I behind him.  As we were all getting situated another two buses showed up and another 70 SAS kids walked out and also got into rickshaws.  Kelly, Anna, Abby, Courtney and Erica were on those buses and it was nice to see them! We took a few pictures and before we knew it we were out in one of the busiest streets I have ever seen in my life.  It was filled with cars, motorcycles, rickshaws, cows, and people walking.  It was chaotic and I wasn’t sure we would be able to move through everyone but somehow we moved right along next to everyone.  You are so close to people you could reach out and touch anyone next to you in another rickshaw, car, or motorcycle.  I still don’t understand how I haven’t seen one accident there are no rules to the road but also no one seems to get angry or upset with each other they all just move around each other trying to get where they are going as fast as possible. 

 

We finally arrived and were told to get out of the rickshaw and we would walk the rest of the way to the shore of the river.  As we got out we were immediately surrounded by beggars and people trying to sell us things.  I don’t know how we moved through the crowd but we pushed and slowly made our way out and to the steps down to the river.  As I looked down the stairs there were beautiful lights everywhere but on every step I took down to the river there was a beggar, cripple, or young kid crying asking for mine and the others help.  Every step I took I had to ignore the starving, weak, and homeless around me.  At this point it was easier for me to pretend to be deaf and blind as though I couldn’t hear or see them, because if you even acknowledge them your are trapped within a conversation of bargaining for anything you have to give them.  As hard as it was it was the easiest way for me to make it down the steps and through the streets without looking into peoples eyes who truly need help and refusing them that help.  As you are saddened by what you see I was also slightly frightened in a sense.  Not frightened for  my life but for the peoples lives around me who don’t seem to even be able to help one another but only fight for their lives and their lives only.  In all other countries I have been to and seeing poverty, there are people within the community who group together to help one another but here it was different.  Everyone was fighting for their lives and no one seemed to help one another even other Indians of upper class walk past and don’t help.  The poverty is on such a large scale it is as if there is nowhere to begin. 

 

As we finally made our way down what seemed like the longest set of stairs ever we arrived at a nice mans coffee shop who let us sit atop his balcony to watch the ceremonies that would take place in a short time. I found the girls and we all sat together on a stair case looking out over the river.  I was sitting along the railing and when I looked down I saw a man peeing I wasn’t that surprised because I had seen people peeing on the side of the road all day.  Although as the night went on I realized that where the man I first saw pee was actually a somewhat of a designated “bathroom” if you will.  It alongside a wall and it was as if everyone knew that was the bathroom.  Throughout the hour or so we sat there I can’t tell you the number of people who went pee on the wall.  This wall is out in public and alongside a staircase where I saw young kids running down barefoot right through the urine like they didn’t see it.

 

Also at this point in my night I have finally gotten used the “smell of India” but am starting to notice a slight cough that I assume is coming from the pollution.  The air in the sky is not blue like we learn here it is a light brown/ grey color.  No matter what time of day or where you look you will not find blue sky.  I thought I knew what pollution was but not until I saw people urinating and kids walking through it, trash build up everywhere you look, and air you feel you could touch and grab a speck of dirt out of did I realize the smog I complain about in California is nothing and the air I breathe in Colorado is probably some of the cleanest air in the world. 

 

We sat waiting for the ceremonies to begin there was speaker on the building next to us and a voice came out of it singing some type of chant.  I wish we had a personal tour guide to sit and tell us all about what the different parts of the ceremony mean.  From what I was able to understand the ceremony we were watching take place along the river is to release all the bad spirits into the river for the day.  There was a group of men and women dressed in orange who performed the ceremonies.  They were I assume some type of religious figure.  Bells were rung and rituals were performed.  It was beautiful to watch and amazing to know that this took place every night in this very spot.  I thought about the many people who have seen this and how it hasn’t changed throughout the years, days, or weeks.  It is always the same ceremony.  The ceremony wasn’t over but it was time to leave and head back to our rickshaws for our ride back through the city and to  our bus. 

 

We once again had to walk up the stairs passing the hundreds of beggars and homeless in need of our help. I again walked by as if they didn’t exist it broke my heart but it was easier for me to not acknowledge them then to walk by look them in the eyes and saw no.  As we were looking for our rickshaw driver we were once again surrounded by young kids and men trying to sell us souvenirs like necklaces, postcards, batteries anything you can think of.  I too ignored them to not even give them a chance to bargain with me.  Saying “ But its nice I give you good price and made  for you! “.  My method seemed to be helpful as I look back at Jeff and he has a strange look on his face and says “Did you see that!?!?”  I said No, what are you talking about? Apparently a crippled man with two fingers had attempted to reach out and grab me.  We had also been warned about this possibly happening.  I was happy I didn’t see it and glad to have Jeff walking with me.  We finally found our rickshaw driver and made our way back to the buses. By this time it was dark and the city was still thriving with people selling things and the streets as busy as ever.  I am confused how people make money in the city those who have shops or shacks they sell things from.  Because it seems as though everyone is either a store owner or souvenir seller on the street, or a rickshaw driver.  There are so many people everywhere and it seems as though every store sells the same thing either food or sari’s.  There are many different types of stores and it is amazing how many shops there are.  Although with over a billion people, as much as I sit and think about anything I saw in India I only come out with more questions and feeling more confused than I started.

 

After our fun and scary rickshaw ride back to the bus, we were finally done after an extremely long, busy, exciting day and we headed back to the hotel and to bed because we would be waking up at 4:45 tomorrow morning. 

 

 

India Posts

I just wanted to let you all know that I am slowly working on my India blogs and apologize they are not up yet.  India was a place wehre I came out with more questions then ever and it has been slightly draining to think and write about what I saw.  I hope to have them done and up soon.  But first I might take a break and go watch some karaoke in the Union...

The Girls and I

This picture is so you can all put faces to the "The Girls" when I talk about them...

 

From left to right it is:  Anna, Erica, Abby, Dylan, Me, Kelly, Courtney

Safari Picture

 

March 5th, 2009

This morning I woke up to watch the sunrise and was once again unsuccessful. When you stepped outside the ship though there was a distinct smell I knew I would have to get used to this was the “smell of India”. It is hard to describe but wasn’t the most pleasant smell ever.  It was extremely foggy out and you couldn’t see a thing. So Dylan and I went back to bed and later met up for breakfast.  After breakfast we had a diplomatic briefing and then had to wait in line for our paper work in the faculty/staff lounge.  This is the first country where security and other things are run differently. Instead of our passports we are required to carry around a shore pass and customs paper at all times. 

 

I had originally planned to stay on the ship until 1 because I had an FDP/ Service Visit but I found Emily who said she also had to be back early so we went out with a few girls to explore the city of Chennai for a few hours and do some shopping. 

 

We stepped off the ship and headed towards the gate looking for some transportation to a market called Spencers.  It was very overwhelming and we had taxi drivers and rickshaw drivers surrounding us on all sides. We finally gathered our thoughts and started to walk to the gate to compose ourselves and find a taxi perhaps on our walk.  We came across a taxi that agreed to drive us to the market for 50 rupees a person.  That is about 1 American dollar.  He even closed the windows and turned on the air.  The drive took about 15 minutes.  As soon as we drove out of the port gate the poverty was noticeable.  People lining the streets where you could tell they had slept the night before, people setting up shop on the side of the road, children wearing no shoes and raged clothes.  Every way I looked I saw poverty but I also saw some of the most beautiful colors I have seen, in the clothing of what looked like more wealthy women with their saris.  There are 1 billion people in India and it seemed as though all 1 billion were in the city of Chennai.  I have never seen so much life in a city packed with people all going about their day.    

 

When we arrived at the market we gave the taxi driver the money but he asked for more.  The girls sat in the car arguing with him and I just told them to get out because that was the number we agreed on from the beginning he tried to factor in the air conditioning but we were told at our diplomatic briefing to be firm and stay with the original price agreed upon.  I would have gotten out of the car myself but I was on the side towards all the traffic and knew that would be a dangerous task to open the door and get out safely.  India’s traffic and streets are unlike anything I have ever seen before in my life. It is busy with no real rules everyone driving to their liking and honking a lot.  We finally all got out of the car and started walking to the market.  As we walked into the market three men came up to us claiming the market was closed until 1 and that we should go with them and they would be our tour guides for the day.  We didn’t trust them and just went to the market anyways which wasn’t closed.  The market was similar to a mall, when we walked in we were greeted with shop owners luring us into their shops to look at their items.

 

We walked into one shop where immediately this man started pulling out scarves from bags and putting them on us and all over the shop.  I think we were in their for about an hour and all bought some really pretty things.  The scarves, pillows, blankets everything were all so pretty we had a hard time choosing how many we wanted and what colors.  I think I got about 5 scarves and 5 pillow cases for a very cheap price.  The man in the shop was extremely nice and was pulling things out all over the place we felt bad making a mess of his shop but he insisted it was fine.  He even told us to come back tomorrow and wanted us to come to his house for dinner.  We had a nice conversation with him and even talked about how his kids were studying engineering and chemistry.  We told him he should be very proud because they are very smart! He also gave us many business cards and told us to give them to kids on the ship and tell them what a good deal he gave us.

 

 When we were finally able to leave the store and stop spending money it was time for Emily and I to head back to the ship.  We decided this time we should take a rickshaw and really experience India but also that taking  a taxi on our where there was a good way to ease us into traffic and such in India.  We were walking around not sure how to exit the mall and came across one of the workers from the shop we had just been shopping in and he helped us out of the mall and to find a rickshaw.  We started negotiation with him that we wanted to pay 100 rupee for the both of us.  He said it wasn’t possible and walked away.  We tried with two other rickshaw drivers and they said the same thing.  So we worked out 200 rupee’s total and got in ready for a crazy drive back to the port but confused as why we paid less to be in a taxi with air conditioning but went with it anyways.  We were zipping in and out of cars, going on the wrong side of the road and getting extremely closer to other motorcycles and rickshaws.  We even went by another group of SAS kids in a rickshaw there was 4 of them and one of them was my friend Alex.  She looked a little frightened but excited at the same time.  After thinking we almost weren’t going to make it we arrived at the gate of the port and started walking. 

 

When we got the ship we had some lunch, Emily went on her FDP and I got ready for mine.  I had my camera all charged and was ready for my service visit.  We were going to the YMCA to play with children all day is what I thought but I knew that with SAS trips there always things that happen you weren’t aware of from the itinerary. 

 

There was a group of about 15 or so of us on the bus for the service visit.  Tricia’s (my roommate from Boulder) friend Jen was on my trip so it was nice to at least have one familiar face.  We started with a 45 minute drive to the YMCA at For Boys and Boys Town Kottiakkam.  As we were arriving at the YMCA our tour guide told us that the boys we would be visiting were mostly orphans or from very poor homes and if they saw there families it was only maybe twice a year.  There were two hundred boys living at the facility.  The facility teaches the boys English and other skills to eventually set them out in the real world and set them up with jobs in factories to get them started.

 

When we arrived at the facility we came into a room where all two hundred boys were sitting quietly in rows the smallest in the front and tallest in the back.  There were chairs set up in from of them as if a stage for us to sit on.  We all sat down and took a microphone to introduce ourselves.  We were then told that the boys would perform a few songs for us and then it would be our turn to perform.  We all looked at each other a little worried but had heard this happened from time to time and didn’t seem too surprised.  This is what Luke (the man on the ship who gives our announcements) likes to call an “air guitar moment”.  The boys sang songs as a group and a few of them came up individually and sang songs.  Then it was out turn.  Nathan (works in the computer lab on the ship and was the leader of our trip) got up and we followed.  He was on top of his game and suggested that we sing “Row Row Row Your Boat”, since we came on a ship. I thought it was clever!! So we sang that song. Then moved on to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” followed by a song to get all the kids involved “The Hokie Pokie”.  We had all the kids stand up and follow us it was really fun to include them in our song and we all laughed and giggled at each other. 

 

The boys were sent to their rooms and the group of us split up to visit the boys in their rooms in smaller group to get to know them better.  Jen and I and some other girls went into the first housing unit.  Each boy had their own bed and that was about it, I didn’t even see a cubby for things because I assume they don’t have anything.  They all where a uniform so that is given to them and everything else such as school supplies they share.  When we came in we met their “House Mother” there is one in every housing unit so the boys do have some type of mother figure in their lives.  The house mother seemed very shy and reserved; her husband also lived with her in the unit in their own apartment with their two little daughters.  At first it was awkward and we weren’t sure what to do.  But we asked all the boys to come into one room and we started playing thumb wars.  Next thing I knew someone’s camera came out and the boys went crazy.  They all wanted to take pictures.  So we took out our cameras and let them take pictures of one another.  Half the time I wasn’t even sure where my camera was but the boys were fascinated by the technology.  Most of them wanted to be the ones taking the pictures and then if they weren’t holding the camera they wanted to be doing something silly in the picture.  Even the house mother wanted her picture taken with her little girls to show them.  For the next hour we continued playing thumb wars, patty cake and taking pictures.  It was a really fun time and I think my cameras battery was almost dead by the time we left.  The kids didn’t speak too much English but were able to tell me their names and age.  This was the first time I didn’t really have a connection with just one kid because there were so many of them and so few of us. 

 

Although I do remember some of the kids when we were playing thumb war saying “India” and holding their thumb up then pointing at my thumb and saying “America” then yelling “WAR!” It surprised a few of us and we all kept trying to say “Peace” because we didn’t really know how else to respond or if the kids even knew what we thought they meant when they were saying that.  I now think it was them using what little English they knew to practice but to us it seemed as though they thought India and America were at war. 

 

We finally left the boys and were on to our next destination which we were sure what it was.  We ended up driving a few hundred feet and then walking a block to a YMCA women’s hostel where we were served tea.  We all looked at each other and thought that we would rather be playing with the kids still instead of being a block away enjoying tea and cookies for an hour.

Once tea was done we got back on the bus to head to the beach for 30 minutes to walk around and then on to another YMCA facility.  The beach was crowded with people and is I believe is the second longest beach in the world.  There were people everywhere and we were being looked at left and right.  When we got to the water two men tried to get some of us to buy a ride on their horse but that didn’t seem like the best idea.  The beach just like everything else I have seen is littered beyond belief and extremely crowded but beautiful at the same time.  As the sun went down we headed back to the bus and when we got there, there were a few women with their children begging us for money and food.  This was my first experience with the beggars in India.  We had been told not to give anything to the beggars because it doesn’t really help the society and then we will just be bombarded with more and more people wanting things.  We also said no and tried to get on the bus as fast as possible.  Although one woman grabbed me by the arms from behind and wouldn’t seem to let go; I was scared and saddened all at the same time.  As soon as I reached the door of the bus she let go but then came around to my window and started banging out in.  I looked down and saw the little girl she was holding and her both whom looked like they hadn’t showered in weeks and had been sleeping outside for who knows how long.  I wanted to do something for them but I also wanted to do something do everyone I saw on the streets.  The poverty is so extreme and overwhelming you don’t know where to begin and everyone was right it was probably best to not give to anyone and find a reputable charity to donate to instead. 

 

Finally we were back on the bus and headed to our final destination which I was still unclear what it was.  After a short drive we ended up at another YMCA facility that looked like a large hotel and it was just that or rather “hostel”.  We went inside and up to a conference room where a table was set up for us to have dinner.  We all sat down and waited as we were told there would be a guest coming shortly.  After a few minutes an Indian man walked in and we all stood waiting for him to sit.  He introduced himself and explained that he is the head of the YMCA in the state of India we were in (a very important man who took his time to eat dinner and meet with us).  We all introduced ourselves and what we were studying. He then presented each of us with a traditional Indian shall that he was honoring us with for coming and learning about the program. 

 

We then had a traditional Indian meal; I couldn’t really tell what much of it was but meat with curry and some Indian bread.  It was really good food and a great way to end our long first day in India. 

 

We finally got back to the ship around 10 and I still had to pack and shower for my trip that would leave tomorrow at 3:15 in the morning.  I think I didn’t actually go to bed until midnight cause after packing and showering Beau and I just had to watch the first two episodes of Summer Heights!!!