Local kids, Thar Desert, India**Incredible India** A world of thoughts and feelings.Simplicity. Adventure. Spirituality. Contrasting landscapes and smells. Filth. Clean mountain Himalayan air. Feelings hard to describe. Skiing. Manali. Prayer Flags. New levels. Rich. Poor. Getting ripped off. Generosity of locals. Chai. Chapati's. Sheesha. Peace. Golden sands. Refreshing water. Humidity. Hand washing clothes. Market shopping. Bucket showers. Holy cows. Yoga. Meditation. Palm trees. Malaika. Yaka kayaks. Mumbai customs. Waiting. Patience. New discoveries. Dhal. Rice. Anjuna trance parties. Zain's whanau. Overcrowded trains. Challenging. Delayed. Excitement. Shit. Monkeys. Violently sick from both ends. Physically exhausted. Long bus rides. Frustration.Wisdom. Basic needs. Values. Morals. Mud houses. Vast desert. Camel safari. Hot pink sunsets. Tourism. Singing. Dhoom macahle. Mohammed. 4 wives. Children. Hinduism. Ganesha. Delhi belli. Rollercoaster bus rides. Flying. Bouldering. Hampi. Dream alive. Chris Sharma. Heat. Bicycling. Bright Colours. Temples. Shawls. Goa. Home. Learning simplicity. Nature. Fishing. Sea kayaking. Sanjay. Mohammed. Goan trance parties. Turtle beach. Goan fish curry. Swimming. Dry bags. Sai baba's. Marijuana. C.d man. Holy ganges. Refreshing. Rafting. Kayaking. Adrenaline. Much needed. Sir Edmond Hillary. cleanliness. Kal na ho nae! Bollywood grooving. Belly Dancing.
New experiences. New cultures. New ways of thinking. New ways of hearing. New ways of seeing life. A new found love and second home. Namaste India! Shanti om.
Sunset near to our home at Patnem, Palolem Beach, Goa
Desert Life - my 24th birthday -Camel Safari, Rajastan, India 2007
Hampi, Boulder-liscious climbing mecca5 October 2008
There is the same auto rickshaw driver that ripped me off last time, ripped me off again. There is the same Indian man who I drunk Chai with 2yrs ago, who recognised me and we drank chai again. Reoccuring thoughts/feelings of men approaching me asking for.. "would you like extra money?", " I treat you just like a father", but this time feeling very vulnerable traveling as a female alone.
In ways I had forgotten the 'Slowly slowly shanti shanti' attitude where everything happens in good time, even if it does take days or weeks on end. Remembering how much patience I once had gained through living here and now having to re-learn it again as I haven't been able to get a train out of Delhi.
To being absolutely blown away driving back to my guesthouse in a rickshaw, with a hot pink full moon setting over a 12.8 million city, where people from all religions, cultures, rich and poor seem to live a relatively harmonized life...the juxtaposition of seeing extreme poverty next to a four story mansion with 3 BMW's parked outside attached with their own security guards. To being welcomed by Sachin's family into their home for a few days and being completely blown away again by the love and incredible Indian hospitality.
To walking down Main Bazaar in Paharganj and before the shop keeper even has time to open their mouth, I say " Helooooo Miss, where you from?,...100 rupee sari, verrrrry good price for you!",...to us both ending up cracking up laughing. To seeing western tourists in their rags and barefoot with wads of cash in their wallets and a flash camera around their neck searching for enlightenment.
Listening to the latest Bollywood grooves crankin' and dancing down the street, and how excited I get when I find a relatively clean toilet! In the last 2 weeks five bombs have gone off in Dehli, at times feeling not at ease as armed guards and barriers surround me, remembering though to live on.
India trains. Squeezed in like sardines, grotty, stinky, people lying on the crusty floor whilst I try and step over them. Babies crying, ferrel smells of diorehea, fan blowing dust in my face, seater booths that are meant to seat 6 people have double that and more people. Finding my seat has already a sleeping man in it who claims it as his. I'm over it...teaches me again to be more patient. Indians always welcome in strangers, even if it their seat or not. Cramp everyone in - no worries. I feel so westernised, "No, this is my seat, I have paid for it, go find your own. I still have 16 hours left to arriving into Gorakphur, a 3 hour bus ride to the border of Nepal, and then 12 hours to Kathmandu!" I again am reminded and humbled I'm not in my home in NZ. This is just another way and just go with it.
Think I'm over traveling budget styles in India? Although strongly believe in non-air conditioned trains/buses is the only way to experience the side of India I want to see. There's not one other foreigner on the train that I can see. Experiencing it as raw as I can is what I love about traveling. Meeting the locals and doing it simply.
Some days I feel so at home in India and in my element as everyday is such a new and dynamic, colourful experience ... India Never ceases to amaze me. It often comes with extreme highs and extreme lows, but everyday I take away something new and challenging and hopefully give somehow through conversations and laughter had.
