Literally...
For the weekend, a bunch of EAP student and I went to the holy town of Rishikesh, a settlement next to the Ganges. It is full of sights and sounds that are so bizarre. People are bathing in the Ganges River from ghats (steps that go into the water), holy aesthetics, temples of Krishna, etc. But I think one of the most prevalent sights in this town is, well, cows.
Cows in India are considered holy; it is believed that they are the highest form of incarnation a soul can attain. this translates into cows being able to do pretty much whatever they want. Since Rishikesh is a holy town, it is littered with cows. They are everywhere. But so is their excrement. Cow poop is all over the place. This creates quite a problem not only because you have to watch you step wherever you go but also because flies are everywhere. There are literally countless numbers of them. You walk down the street and they scatter everywhere: in front of your face, around you, onto the poop, then onto food, etc. It is a real sanitary nightmare.
Since I don't want to make this place just seem horrible, I must also tell you that it is beautiful. It is set in the hills and there are luscious jungles all around. Furthermore, I got the chance to white water raft in the Ganges River! I even got to swim in the river for a bit!
Despite my encounters with cows, my dodging of holy droppings, and my dip in the Ganges, I have yet to feel any holier. Alas...
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Monkeys and Monsoons
After braving the dangers of Delhi’s rickshaws, bureaucracy, and pollution (otherwise known as utter craziness), all the EAP students took a bus to Mussorie. Mussorie is a town in the Himalayas (6,000-7,000 Feet) where we will be participating in an intensive language program for Hindi. It is a beautiful setting in which to learn the language. Everyday, we wake up to beautiful view of the Himalayas. It is a Shangri-La… almost…
While Mussorie may seem like a utopian community, yesterday all the EAP students had an orientation giving us some friendly advice. A local gave us some warning on the local dangers. He described to us how we are entering monsoon season. The rain will be heavy but sporadic. He told us tales of how leopards roam the hillside and eat the stray dogs. He said they especially like the fog (which is frequent here because we often are in the clouds); he said we should be careful of them. But wait, there is more, bears also frequent the area. Yet danger comes in all shapes and sizes though. He warned us of the scorpions, giant poisonous centipedes, and the spiders. His advice was to, "shake all our clothes and shoes before putting them on." As if this was not enough to watch out for, monkeys are everywhere. While they may look cute, they can be very aggressive (they can beat people with their long hard tails) and go to great lengths to enter rooms and steal food. A friend and I sat watching a monkey eat her chocolate in the tree which he took from her room. And finally, sine this is the monsoons season, leaches can also be a problem. But not just any leaches but striped leaches which can be particularly dangerous if left to their own devices. To recap: 1) Leopards, 2) Bears, 3) Spiders, 4) Scorpions, 5) Giant poisonous centipedes, 6) Monkeys, and 7) Leaches.
Nonetheless, I love Mussorie. I really shouldn’t give it too bad a portrayal; it is a wonderful place. I was sick for the first 4 days but it is an amazing place with breathtaking vistas and a wonderful vibe. I guess I can brave the monkeys and monsoons…
While Mussorie may seem like a utopian community, yesterday all the EAP students had an orientation giving us some friendly advice. A local gave us some warning on the local dangers. He described to us how we are entering monsoon season. The rain will be heavy but sporadic. He told us tales of how leopards roam the hillside and eat the stray dogs. He said they especially like the fog (which is frequent here because we often are in the clouds); he said we should be careful of them. But wait, there is more, bears also frequent the area. Yet danger comes in all shapes and sizes though. He warned us of the scorpions, giant poisonous centipedes, and the spiders. His advice was to, "shake all our clothes and shoes before putting them on." As if this was not enough to watch out for, monkeys are everywhere. While they may look cute, they can be very aggressive (they can beat people with their long hard tails) and go to great lengths to enter rooms and steal food. A friend and I sat watching a monkey eat her chocolate in the tree which he took from her room. And finally, sine this is the monsoons season, leaches can also be a problem. But not just any leaches but striped leaches which can be particularly dangerous if left to their own devices. To recap: 1) Leopards, 2) Bears, 3) Spiders, 4) Scorpions, 5) Giant poisonous centipedes, 6) Monkeys, and 7) Leaches.
Nonetheless, I love Mussorie. I really shouldn’t give it too bad a portrayal; it is a wonderful place. I was sick for the first 4 days but it is an amazing place with breathtaking vistas and a wonderful vibe. I guess I can brave the monkeys and monsoons…
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Rickshaws in Old Delhi
Rickshaws...
The very name conjures up images of a little three wheeled vehicle darting through traffic and honking horns. Even the name of the vehicle, "rickshaw," seems sketchy at best. And this picture of rickshaws is not far from the truth...
Yesterday we went to the Red Fort in Old Delhi. Old Delhi is known for its winding and chaotic back alleys and never ending supplies of any material good you could ever possible want. It is one GIANT bazaar. The Red Fort is on the outskirts of it hoverer. We visited the Red Fort and saw the beautiful Mughal architecture. It really is a master piece. I can't wait to see more Mughal architecture like the Taj Mahal and Humayan's Tomb here in Delhi.
But the real fun began after we left the fort. We got rickshaw to take us back to the hostel. The driver took us by the quickest route which, of course, was through Old Delhi. I think the best possible way to describe it would be like a Disneyland ride like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. You dart in and out of traffic. Horns are blazing all around you. You speed straight towards a bus and just as it seems like you are about to hit it, the driver brakes maybe two feet form the bus. Driving lanes are not even a suggestion, they don't exist. People dart across the street but the drivers do not slow down. We came maybe three feet from hitting someone who was frantically crossing the street. Sometimes buses will try and turn into your lane and you will be in that lane. You have to either brake rapidly or speed up before the buss comes into your lane and 'pushes' you into the center divider (or the oncoming traffic). To say the least, it is crazy.
But I loved it. Akash, one of the EAP students I was with, said that I had this huge grin the entire time as I was on the rickshaw. It was amazing to take it all in... and besides it was like riding a roller coaster. So fun!
The very name conjures up images of a little three wheeled vehicle darting through traffic and honking horns. Even the name of the vehicle, "rickshaw," seems sketchy at best. And this picture of rickshaws is not far from the truth...
Yesterday we went to the Red Fort in Old Delhi. Old Delhi is known for its winding and chaotic back alleys and never ending supplies of any material good you could ever possible want. It is one GIANT bazaar. The Red Fort is on the outskirts of it hoverer. We visited the Red Fort and saw the beautiful Mughal architecture. It really is a master piece. I can't wait to see more Mughal architecture like the Taj Mahal and Humayan's Tomb here in Delhi.
But the real fun began after we left the fort. We got rickshaw to take us back to the hostel. The driver took us by the quickest route which, of course, was through Old Delhi. I think the best possible way to describe it would be like a Disneyland ride like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. You dart in and out of traffic. Horns are blazing all around you. You speed straight towards a bus and just as it seems like you are about to hit it, the driver brakes maybe two feet form the bus. Driving lanes are not even a suggestion, they don't exist. People dart across the street but the drivers do not slow down. We came maybe three feet from hitting someone who was frantically crossing the street. Sometimes buses will try and turn into your lane and you will be in that lane. You have to either brake rapidly or speed up before the buss comes into your lane and 'pushes' you into the center divider (or the oncoming traffic). To say the least, it is crazy.
But I loved it. Akash, one of the EAP students I was with, said that I had this huge grin the entire time as I was on the rickshaw. It was amazing to take it all in... and besides it was like riding a roller coaster. So fun!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Bangkok, Airports, and Bureaucracy
Hello all!
First off, I have arrived safely and registered with EAP in Delhi. It was a long set of travles but was uneventful and fairly easy. I almost don't feel jet lagged at all! Thank goodness...
As some of you may know, I went to Bangkok first. I had a 12 hour layover in Bangkok and was able to see my host family. It was wonderful. HOm, who now works for the Turkish embassy, was able to meet me at the gate because of her special clearance. It was really early (6AM) when I got in so many things in Bangkok weren't open. We ended up just going to Chulanakong University in downtown Bankok. We visited Home, he is studying dentistry there, and just talked. It was so wonderful just to see mmy host family members! With Home, I was able to talk a lot of Thai. He said that my Thai was still good. It was fun joking wiht hime about everything, from soccer to musoc that we listen to. He had to go to class so Hom and I went to Silom area and just walked around and talked. Soon enough, MKorny (Mae) and Na Nan came to Bangkok and we went to lunch., It was also really good to see them. We just went around and talked and hung out. it was like old times. I will write about this visit more when I get a chance but now I am on a limited schedule. I went to the airport and flew to Delhi.
I got to Delhi at night and was exhausted. I took a taxi to the YWCA near Caughnot Place. It was kind of an adventure to get there because I needed to get a taxi there and they were all very aggresive in trying to get me to go to places where if I went they would get a commission. Soon enough though, I convinced thewm that I didn't want to do this and they took me straight there. When I woke up the next day, all the other EAP students had to go to the immigration office and register. This was INSANE. People were everywhere and it seemed like despite being there, nothing ever happened and the line never moved. We ended up staying there from 9:30AM to 4:30PM until many of us got all that we needed to.
Unfortunately, I need to wrap this blog up but I will write more when I have some more ample time. I hope this gives a little bit of information. Sorry it is so short and uninformative!
First off, I have arrived safely and registered with EAP in Delhi. It was a long set of travles but was uneventful and fairly easy. I almost don't feel jet lagged at all! Thank goodness...
As some of you may know, I went to Bangkok first. I had a 12 hour layover in Bangkok and was able to see my host family. It was wonderful. HOm, who now works for the Turkish embassy, was able to meet me at the gate because of her special clearance. It was really early (6AM) when I got in so many things in Bangkok weren't open. We ended up just going to Chulanakong University in downtown Bankok. We visited Home, he is studying dentistry there, and just talked. It was so wonderful just to see mmy host family members! With Home, I was able to talk a lot of Thai. He said that my Thai was still good. It was fun joking wiht hime about everything, from soccer to musoc that we listen to. He had to go to class so Hom and I went to Silom area and just walked around and talked. Soon enough, MKorny (Mae) and Na Nan came to Bangkok and we went to lunch., It was also really good to see them. We just went around and talked and hung out. it was like old times. I will write about this visit more when I get a chance but now I am on a limited schedule. I went to the airport and flew to Delhi.
I got to Delhi at night and was exhausted. I took a taxi to the YWCA near Caughnot Place. It was kind of an adventure to get there because I needed to get a taxi there and they were all very aggresive in trying to get me to go to places where if I went they would get a commission. Soon enough though, I convinced thewm that I didn't want to do this and they took me straight there. When I woke up the next day, all the other EAP students had to go to the immigration office and register. This was INSANE. People were everywhere and it seemed like despite being there, nothing ever happened and the line never moved. We ended up staying there from 9:30AM to 4:30PM until many of us got all that we needed to.
Unfortunately, I need to wrap this blog up but I will write more when I have some more ample time. I hope this gives a little bit of information. Sorry it is so short and uninformative!
Friday, June 15, 2007
It is two days before I head off to India and I am ridiculously excited. I have been in Ojai for the past couple of days and I am near childishly giddy about my departure. Last night I was up late reading the manuals from EAP about India and suggestions on different things. They also had a bunch of articles written by students who had been on the program. After reading these two things, I realized that 1) I forgot certain things in Davis that I should pack like a sleeping bag, 2) that buying clothes in India is going to be awesome (they are really cheap cotton clothes ...finally I can get those cotton pajama-like bottoms, awesome!) and 3) there are a lot of things that are going to be challenging about India. All the student articles were describing how demanding India is as a country. It will be interesting to see how I cope. Today I will meet with one of my former teachers from high school, Doctor Sidhu, who actually did all of her college work at Delhi University. Hopefully she will give me some insight regarding living in Delhi.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Welcome!
Hello to all of those who will be following this blog! I figure that instead of writing mass emails that people may not read, i will write a blog instead that people can browse through at their own leisure. Of course, if you email me, I will try and get back to you, but this way I can post photos and video (hopefully!) really easily. I will beginning posting once I get into India on the 19th!
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