This is a post that I have mixed feelings about writing. India has become apart of me but Minnesota is waiting for me to come home. How can I choose between my homes? I never thought that India will become home quickly, I walk down the street without hearing the honking or seeing the birds. I have settled into a routine here, now my routine will be changed once again. I'm leaving people that I cherish but returning to people I cherish. It feels strange that two such radically different places are now my home.
I have done a lot of things over the last few days in Kolkata. I hung out with my friends and slept over. Last minute shopping was done. Packing took a while. My suitcases are huge plus I had to buy another one. I said my suitcase is 11 months pregnant and ready to burst. It has certainly grew from the one that I packed in the beginning.
Yesterday, I went to get mehindi. Mehindi is what we call henna but henna is not the proper term. Oh my, it is beautiful and I will have to post pictures later. I had to get it before leaving India. I couldn't go to India without having it at least once and I'm happy. My hands have become works of art.
I will write again. I want to share some more things to expect about India when I get home. I want to enjoy my last day here! Here I come Minnesota, you better be ready for me....
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
KERALA!
Ah, my last excursion of the trip. It was a fantastic one too! I have to say it was one of my favorite places that I have visited here in India.
We arrived in Cochin...and my I was in awe when I saw the city. One of the cleanest places I have been to in India. Then we arrived at the hotel, it was a resort. The place was absolutely beautiful and live classical musicians were playing by the pool. After checking in, we went for a walk by the Arabian sea. I was amazed by what I saw. The fishing nets lining the beach and the people frolicking in the water. I ended up dipping my toes into the sea.
After that, we took a houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala. I enjoyed the beauty very much and the peace that was gained. It was fun observing the people because it was good Friday and to see the people walking towards the churches in the backwaters. The food was amazing of course and the pineapple chutney became a favorite of mine. Staying on the boat was fun and relaxing way to get a nice tan!
We also had the opportunity to stay at a resort. This was basically a lazy day by the pool and I got sunburnt.
Then we were off to the foothills of the mountains. On the way, we stopped at a rubber plantation and a pineapple plantation. It was cool to see how these processes were done. When we arrived at the destination, another resort of course! I had the opportunity to see how spices were grown and I enjoyed learning about the various spices. I also bought some! When we were touring the garden, they had the hottest chili in the world and I ate it. I survived... That night we went to a martial arts performance and that was neat to see. I also went to a dance performance. The performer was so young and talented.
I also traveled to Munnar. It is set in the beauty of the mountains. I didn't want to leave. I walked around and people watched. In the morning, the group went to learn about tea processing and that was fun!
The final place was the beach. A beachside resort was just what I needed. I swam in the Arabian sea and enjoyed the sunset. I forgot how much I enjoyed the beach and the sand. I wish I had a boogie board though!
I wish I had more time to write about this trip but I have to much to do for my finals!
We arrived in Cochin...and my I was in awe when I saw the city. One of the cleanest places I have been to in India. Then we arrived at the hotel, it was a resort. The place was absolutely beautiful and live classical musicians were playing by the pool. After checking in, we went for a walk by the Arabian sea. I was amazed by what I saw. The fishing nets lining the beach and the people frolicking in the water. I ended up dipping my toes into the sea.
After that, we took a houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala. I enjoyed the beauty very much and the peace that was gained. It was fun observing the people because it was good Friday and to see the people walking towards the churches in the backwaters. The food was amazing of course and the pineapple chutney became a favorite of mine. Staying on the boat was fun and relaxing way to get a nice tan!
We also had the opportunity to stay at a resort. This was basically a lazy day by the pool and I got sunburnt.
Then we were off to the foothills of the mountains. On the way, we stopped at a rubber plantation and a pineapple plantation. It was cool to see how these processes were done. When we arrived at the destination, another resort of course! I had the opportunity to see how spices were grown and I enjoyed learning about the various spices. I also bought some! When we were touring the garden, they had the hottest chili in the world and I ate it. I survived... That night we went to a martial arts performance and that was neat to see. I also went to a dance performance. The performer was so young and talented.
I also traveled to Munnar. It is set in the beauty of the mountains. I didn't want to leave. I walked around and people watched. In the morning, the group went to learn about tea processing and that was fun!
The final place was the beach. A beachside resort was just what I needed. I swam in the Arabian sea and enjoyed the sunset. I forgot how much I enjoyed the beach and the sand. I wish I had a boogie board though!
I wish I had more time to write about this trip but I have to much to do for my finals!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
This Little Light of Mine: Solar Lamps for Children in the Sundarbans
Hello all,
In India, I have had the opportunity to volunteer at Association for Social and Environmental Development. I have been working on a project to get solar lamps for children in the Sundarbans. The Sundarbans is a biosphere region located in West Bengal and is declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. Alternative energy sources are needed to preserve this area.
Children use dangerous kerosene lamps to study. The children can get injured or start fires from the use of these lamps. Using kerosene is the equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes The lamps also give poor light for school work. Solar lamps will provide a safer and cleaner light source for the children.
25 dollars will give a solar lamp to a child in need. Give what you can and know that these children are receiving a wonderful gift. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. I want these children to realize their full potential through education. Here is the website to donate: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/solar-lamps-for-students-in-sundarbans-india/ and there is also additional information on the issues that I was discussing is available.
In India, I have had the opportunity to volunteer at Association for Social and Environmental Development. I have been working on a project to get solar lamps for children in the Sundarbans. The Sundarbans is a biosphere region located in West Bengal and is declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. Alternative energy sources are needed to preserve this area.
Children use dangerous kerosene lamps to study. The children can get injured or start fires from the use of these lamps. Using kerosene is the equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes The lamps also give poor light for school work. Solar lamps will provide a safer and cleaner light source for the children.
25 dollars will give a solar lamp to a child in need. Give what you can and know that these children are receiving a wonderful gift. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. I want these children to realize their full potential through education. Here is the website to donate: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/solar-lamps-for-students-in-sundarbans-india/ and there is also additional information on the issues that I was discussing is available.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Holi
Happy Holi! I was lucky enough to be here during one of the most famous Indian festivals. It is the festival of colors and it is where you have colors thrown on you. A surely beautiful sight to be seen! Holi is the celebration of spring and is observed by Hindus.
Holika was given a shawl to protect her from fires. She carried Prahlad into the fire. A gust of wind came by and threw off her shawl. Meanwhile, Prahlad was praying to the god, Vishnu and was saved from the flames while Holika was burned to death. Holi is about the death of evil and marks new beginnings in the year. A bonfire is lit in remembrance of the incredible feat that was performed. More information can be found here: .
I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves! Before and after photos are included....
Holika was given a shawl to protect her from fires. She carried Prahlad into the fire. A gust of wind came by and threw off her shawl. Meanwhile, Prahlad was praying to the god, Vishnu and was saved from the flames while Holika was burned to death. Holi is about the death of evil and marks new beginnings in the year. A bonfire is lit in remembrance of the incredible feat that was performed. More information can be found here: .
I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves! Before and after photos are included....
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
World Cup Cricket
I had an amazing opportunity to attend a world cup match! The match was South Africa vs Ireland and it took place at Eden Gardens. Eden Gardens is one of the largest stadiums in the world and it can hold 150,000 people. I was pumped to go and experience India's national pastime. Don't have me explain how the game is played because I'm still a little confused(here is some info ). It was fun to learn a new sport at this type of an event. The craziness that filled the stadium air. I was interviewed a few times on who I was rooting for and sure my face is plastered on Indian ESPN. I saw many 4's, 6's, and wickets. I know this blog post isn't long but cricket is hard for me to explain and is one of those sports that is better explained by someone who grew up watching it.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sundarbans
I haven't written for quite a while because I haven't had a computer. I had the amazing opportunity to go to a tiger reserve and a World Heritage site. It was a two hour drive and then an hour boat ride to the hotel. We were lucky in that we had beautiful weather for the boat ride. It was a nice relaxing ride. Once we arrived, we settled in and then went back on the boat to visit a observation area. The trees were interesting. The roots were sticking up and the tree looked like it was stilted. The a boat ride was gorgeous and to see all the birds flying low to the surface of the water. We disembarked for a view at the observational towers. We climbed up to get a spectacular view but sadly no tiger was found. I did see a monkey, a crocodile and a monitor lizard while there. We loaded back onto the boat just in time to see the sunset. It was gorgeous and the sun sets so quickly here.
The next morning, we had to be up at 5 am to be able to see the sunrise. I was happy that I got to see the sunrise, it was definitely worth being up that early. The colors were vibrant and how the sun hit the water was something else. We started looking for wildlife and tons of birds were out. In addition to the wildlife, people were out in their dingys fishing and hauling things. There were so many people out. The boat ride was nice and relaxing. We also stopped at different observational areas to spot the elusive tiger but again we had no luck. We did spot some deer. After the observational towers, we had breakfast on the boat. Breakfast consisted of fruit, lutchi, and local honey. It was all delicious especially the honey. After breakfast, we continued observing various wildlife until lunch. We went back to camp for lunch and it was delicious. After lunch, we took a short nap and some of us went back onto the boat for more of a ride. We went to different observational areas then in the morning. it was so nice to be on the boat, it reminded me so much of Minnesota's summers. The afternoon boat ride was much more for enjoyment and being in the mangrove forests. They cut the engine for us and to listen to the silence was wonderful. We stayed out way past sunset. The sunset was so stunning and especially with the egert that flew. After the sunset, I saw the stars. There were so many twinkling and so bright. I could have stayed out all night watching them. After a little star gazing, we headed back to camp for dinner. Dinner was delicious and I can't remember what I had!
The next morning, we went for a walk through the village. It was neat to see how people lived. We were quite the attraction. On the way back from the village, we took a rickshaw with a flat bed in the back. You can fit up to 6 people in the back.
I do have a video but the internet isn't fast enough to put it up. Once I get it loaded onto youtube, I will post it to my blog!
The next morning, we had to be up at 5 am to be able to see the sunrise. I was happy that I got to see the sunrise, it was definitely worth being up that early. The colors were vibrant and how the sun hit the water was something else. We started looking for wildlife and tons of birds were out. In addition to the wildlife, people were out in their dingys fishing and hauling things. There were so many people out. The boat ride was nice and relaxing. We also stopped at different observational areas to spot the elusive tiger but again we had no luck. We did spot some deer. After the observational towers, we had breakfast on the boat. Breakfast consisted of fruit, lutchi, and local honey. It was all delicious especially the honey. After breakfast, we continued observing various wildlife until lunch. We went back to camp for lunch and it was delicious. After lunch, we took a short nap and some of us went back onto the boat for more of a ride. We went to different observational areas then in the morning. it was so nice to be on the boat, it reminded me so much of Minnesota's summers. The afternoon boat ride was much more for enjoyment and being in the mangrove forests. They cut the engine for us and to listen to the silence was wonderful. We stayed out way past sunset. The sunset was so stunning and especially with the egert that flew. After the sunset, I saw the stars. There were so many twinkling and so bright. I could have stayed out all night watching them. After a little star gazing, we headed back to camp for dinner. Dinner was delicious and I can't remember what I had!
The next morning, we went for a walk through the village. It was neat to see how people lived. We were quite the attraction. On the way back from the village, we took a rickshaw with a flat bed in the back. You can fit up to 6 people in the back.
I do have a video but the internet isn't fast enough to put it up. Once I get it loaded onto youtube, I will post it to my blog!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Half Way Point
March has certainly sneaked up on me. I can't believe that this is the half way mark of study abroad. I don't think my life has ever so flown by. December seems like forever ago and I felt like I haven't been able to reflect on all my experiences.
I thought I would share with you guys some frustrations today because I have painted a rosy picture so far of my experience. Something that bothers me is the concept of Indian time. Things start late, I went to a play recently and it started 3 hours late. I almost left the performance but my friend was in it and I wanted to support her. I have just instituted a policy of adding at least 1-2 hours for things starting or arriving at your destination. Another frustration is travelling time and the amount of time I sit in traffic or waiting to get on public transportation. If I had all the time that I lost, I could write a novella(just kidding). Something that has definitely challenged me is the beggars on the street. I am grabbed, poked and followed down the street. I want them to keep their grubby paws off of me. It is sad that I have lost my sympathy towards them but they are ruthless in their advances. I walk fast and say jao(it means go away in bangla). There are other normal frustrations of living in a different culture such as communicatiion. Sometimes you don't understand all the gestures or the language. When you are lost and need directions to get to the metro, gesturing doesn't always do the trick. My last major frustration is school. It is a lot more strict then I am used to. I don't like that there is a dress code or they take attendance. In a lot of ways, they treat their students like high school students and not mature adults. Also the way education is delivered is through dictation and dictation is not fun. I think its hard to learn if you are not actively engaged in the material and actually questioning what is being taught.
Besides my frustrations, I want to share with you guys some of the things that I still need to accomplish. There is still a lot that I would like to see in Kolkata. I want to go to the Botannical Gardens for sure and explore some of the parks. I also need to make it to the Indian Muesum and some temples. I am hoping to go to a tiger reserve in the Himalayas soon and that needs to be planned. I do hope to continue to challenge myself with this trip and be open to all experiences. I think a lot of travelling is taking a jump off a cliff and not looking back, there is no other way to make an individual grow.
Bekkah
I thought I would share with you guys some frustrations today because I have painted a rosy picture so far of my experience. Something that bothers me is the concept of Indian time. Things start late, I went to a play recently and it started 3 hours late. I almost left the performance but my friend was in it and I wanted to support her. I have just instituted a policy of adding at least 1-2 hours for things starting or arriving at your destination. Another frustration is travelling time and the amount of time I sit in traffic or waiting to get on public transportation. If I had all the time that I lost, I could write a novella(just kidding). Something that has definitely challenged me is the beggars on the street. I am grabbed, poked and followed down the street. I want them to keep their grubby paws off of me. It is sad that I have lost my sympathy towards them but they are ruthless in their advances. I walk fast and say jao(it means go away in bangla). There are other normal frustrations of living in a different culture such as communicatiion. Sometimes you don't understand all the gestures or the language. When you are lost and need directions to get to the metro, gesturing doesn't always do the trick. My last major frustration is school. It is a lot more strict then I am used to. I don't like that there is a dress code or they take attendance. In a lot of ways, they treat their students like high school students and not mature adults. Also the way education is delivered is through dictation and dictation is not fun. I think its hard to learn if you are not actively engaged in the material and actually questioning what is being taught.
Besides my frustrations, I want to share with you guys some of the things that I still need to accomplish. There is still a lot that I would like to see in Kolkata. I want to go to the Botannical Gardens for sure and explore some of the parks. I also need to make it to the Indian Muesum and some temples. I am hoping to go to a tiger reserve in the Himalayas soon and that needs to be planned. I do hope to continue to challenge myself with this trip and be open to all experiences. I think a lot of travelling is taking a jump off a cliff and not looking back, there is no other way to make an individual grow.
Bekkah
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Ultimate Game of Chicken
I used to play chicken as a child but now it has a whole new meaning to it. Any form of transportation in India is going to have some fear inducing side effects. I have had some quite interesting experiences in getting around. Foot of course is the cheapest and sometimes the most convenient way to get around in the city. At the same time, it is a huge game of frogger. You have to navigate and be aggressive to get across the street. I learned that you can't wait for traffic to stop for you or otherwise you'll be there the whole day. I have successfully made it so far without getting killed or injured which I considered to be an accomplishment. In the end, this is the least fear inducing form of transportation. The metro isn't as bad. It can actually be quite fun to people watch. At the same time, you have to safe guard your belongings and look out for the creeps. The creeps is where the fear can come. The ones who eye you up, cat call or sometimes brush against you. It can be quite uncomfortable but not as scary. I feel safest on the metro because of the sheer number of people. As it gets later into the night, the metro becomes unsafe and a woman shouldn't take it after 9:30 by herself. The reason behind this is the trains become infrequent and stop at 11. Autos, tuck-tucks or rickshaws whatever you wish to call are one of the most iconic things from India. There cheap and great for short distances. Be ready to be smashed in with people and have no personal space. Autos break down a lot but the driver does find another auto for you. The scary part is that auto drivers are some of the craziest drivers out on the roads. In addition, sometimes you are only half in the auto and that leads to an adrenaline filled ride because you are holding on for dear life. Being that close to a bus where you feel like you could lose an arm is part of the Indian experience and it is now normal for me. Cars are a common way to go long distances but taxis are convenient for those short term in a hurry trips. Let me start by saying, getting into a taxi and learning your driver doesn't know where he is going is scary. Sometimes they just pretend they don't know. Driving around can be just as frightening as they don't really follow the traffic rules. Cars back up the street or run lights all the time even drive on the wrong side of the road. The video that I have posted is an experience driving back from an excursion and it gives you a taste of the driving style in India.Transportation is quite an experience in India. I have just learned to enjoy the ride.
As long as I don't die and I get to my destanation safely that is all that matters. Each form of trnasportation has its own pros and cons to it but sometimes the funnest part of the trip is getting there.
As long as I don't die and I get to my destanation safely that is all that matters. Each form of trnasportation has its own pros and cons to it but sometimes the funnest part of the trip is getting there.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Life in Kolkata
Since I have wrote mostly about my travels around India, I thought I should tell you a little bit of my experience living in a city an extended amount of time. Kolkata is a city of 15 million people and is one of the world's biggest people. When I told people I was coming here, I often got the question how will you deal with all those people. I do come from a small town and it was an understandable question to be asked. Now that I am here, I'm dealing quite well with it. At first, it was overwhelming but now I'm used to it. I never feel like I am in that big of city.
Adjusting to traffic was an intersting experience for me. The people plus the amount of cars was overwhelming and scary. I have joked it is a real life game of Frogger. Who knew playing that game would come in handy. You just have to close your eyes and have faith that you won't get hit. I have actually become quite good at crossing the street and I just go. You have to be quick and mentally aware to make it across the street alive.
I'm getting used to all the activites that are afforded to me living in a big city. The different streets you walk down and the places you find is remarkable. The other day I found a place called Aurobindo Bhawan. It is a place where you can meditate and enjoy the beautiful garden. It is the birthplace of a guru. I couldn't believe walking in off the busy street and it was so peaceful. I have also visited College Street. It is one of the most famous places in Kolkata and oldest. It has 4 of the oldest Kolkata universities. There are tons of book stalls. I don't think you can even imagince the number of book stalls that are possiible. It was for sure an eye candy experience for me! In addition, I went to the famous Indian Coffee house and of course had coffee! The things that you can do are amazing....I can't wait to explore more of the city and tell you of the places I find.
Till I write again,
Bekkah
Adjusting to traffic was an intersting experience for me. The people plus the amount of cars was overwhelming and scary. I have joked it is a real life game of Frogger. Who knew playing that game would come in handy. You just have to close your eyes and have faith that you won't get hit. I have actually become quite good at crossing the street and I just go. You have to be quick and mentally aware to make it across the street alive.
I'm getting used to all the activites that are afforded to me living in a big city. The different streets you walk down and the places you find is remarkable. The other day I found a place called Aurobindo Bhawan. It is a place where you can meditate and enjoy the beautiful garden. It is the birthplace of a guru. I couldn't believe walking in off the busy street and it was so peaceful. I have also visited College Street. It is one of the most famous places in Kolkata and oldest. It has 4 of the oldest Kolkata universities. There are tons of book stalls. I don't think you can even imagince the number of book stalls that are possiible. It was for sure an eye candy experience for me! In addition, I went to the famous Indian Coffee house and of course had coffee! The things that you can do are amazing....I can't wait to explore more of the city and tell you of the places I find.
Till I write again,
Bekkah
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Himalayas
Hey everyone! I haven't written for awhile so I thought I would today. Last week, I went on a five day trip to the Jungle and the Himalayas. Friday, we took an aeroplane to a city and then a few hour jeep ride to Chilapata Jungle camp. We got there late in the day. So, it was a surprise the next day when we woke up at what surronded us. It was a breathtaking sight even though we had to be up at 6 am to take our jungle safari. The safari was amazing! We saw some herds of elephants, birds and rhinos. I enjoyed every minute of it. We headed back after a few hours for some breakfast. Then after breakfast, the group split up. I ended up deciding to go birdwatching. We didn't see many birds but the walk through the jungle was surely worth it! After that, we took a drive to a river and chilled for a few minutes. It was getting close to our evening safari. We ended up seeing another herd of elephants. Its rare to see 3 herds of elephants in a day! It was beautiful to see the forest and wished I could just sit in a tree to watch all the animals all day. The next day we had to get up early to make our trek to the Himalayas. The car ride was another long one! On the way to Neora Valley, we got to see tea gardens and how tea is made. We continued our trip and made another few stops. We ended up stopping at this river and taking pictures for awhile. I climbed up this huge rock and was so scared but once I got on top it was so worth it! Then I was the crazy girl who went in the river and took so pictures. It was so cold but so worth it! Then after that little stop, we were almost there. Surprise! Our car got a flat tire and we had to walk the rest of the way there. The walk was lovely after being stuck in the car for a while! The himalayas are surely beautiful. We got cut loose to explore the mountains by ourselves and we ended up going up a dried up waterfall. I fell into a snake pit! JK JK. Anyway, we headed back for tea and then dinner later on.
The next day we went on a walk to a waterfall. It was gorgeous to see and the video is of me at the waterfall. After our walk, we ended up going to Lava(the nearby town) and visiting a buddhist moneastry. It was breathtaking and cold! The work that goes into those places is amazing. I ended up buying some buddhist prayer beads. This blog post is getting long, so this is what I have for you guys and I hope you enjoyed reading!
I hope you enjoy the video...I don't know the quality so bear with me!
The next day we went on a walk to a waterfall. It was gorgeous to see and the video is of me at the waterfall. After our walk, we ended up going to Lava(the nearby town) and visiting a buddhist moneastry. It was breathtaking and cold! The work that goes into those places is amazing. I ended up buying some buddhist prayer beads. This blog post is getting long, so this is what I have for you guys and I hope you enjoyed reading!
I hope you enjoy the video...I don't know the quality so bear with me!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Pictures Pictures Pictures!
I'll give you a little taste of the pictures I have. Since some people have been asking for them....
Paris!!!!!!! Need I say more?
Kia and I on our camel Babaloo!
And of course, my picture taken in front of the Taj Mahal!
I hope you enjoyed seeing some pictures!
Paris!!!!!!! Need I say more?
Kia and I on our camel Babaloo!
And of course, my picture taken in front of the Taj Mahal!
I hope you enjoyed seeing some pictures!
Friday, January 21, 2011
First Trip to the Doctor
So I got sick and I had to make the trip to the doctor. I had such a bad cough that it was beginning to get hard to breathe. It was one of the suckiest feelings that I have experienced in my life. It went on for quite a few days and I finally relented to going to the doctor.
I ended up going on Monday because I came to college and felt absolutely horrible that day. That day I unexpectedly went to the doctor with Madhu. We walked down the street and took a turn to arrive at the clinic. We went to reception and after a few minutes directed us to another floor. I had to climb stairs and it was hard for me to climb up because of my cough. Anyway, we finally made it to the floor. Once again, we had to talk to reception and they said have a seat.
I ended up waiting for a few minutes. Madhu and I chatted a bit but I wasn't very good company. Then we got called and I had no idea what to expect. It was the first time I have ever been to a doctor outside the country and even my state. I knew it was going to be quite the experience and a story to tell.
I walked in with Madhu and sat in the chairs. He asked what the symptoms were in Bengali. Madhu answered in English and Bengali. He then asked me in English and I answered the best I could. It was interesting switching between languages in an office visit. This is something that wouldn't happen at the doctor in America.
After talking about my symptoms, he asked me to lay down on the exam table. He took my blood pressure laying down; something that I have never been asked to do. He then listened to my heart and lungs. Then I got down and went back to the chair.
He then prescribed a few things. A cough syrup that is lime green and frightened me at first. I was also prescribed doxovent which is an anti asthmatic and I also got vitamn c. All the drugs have made me feel much better. The whole doctor visit plus medicine costed me 380 rupees or about 10 dollars. It was money well worth spent. I feel much better now and I hope to write again soon!
I ended up going on Monday because I came to college and felt absolutely horrible that day. That day I unexpectedly went to the doctor with Madhu. We walked down the street and took a turn to arrive at the clinic. We went to reception and after a few minutes directed us to another floor. I had to climb stairs and it was hard for me to climb up because of my cough. Anyway, we finally made it to the floor. Once again, we had to talk to reception and they said have a seat.
I ended up waiting for a few minutes. Madhu and I chatted a bit but I wasn't very good company. Then we got called and I had no idea what to expect. It was the first time I have ever been to a doctor outside the country and even my state. I knew it was going to be quite the experience and a story to tell.
I walked in with Madhu and sat in the chairs. He asked what the symptoms were in Bengali. Madhu answered in English and Bengali. He then asked me in English and I answered the best I could. It was interesting switching between languages in an office visit. This is something that wouldn't happen at the doctor in America.
After talking about my symptoms, he asked me to lay down on the exam table. He took my blood pressure laying down; something that I have never been asked to do. He then listened to my heart and lungs. Then I got down and went back to the chair.
He then prescribed a few things. A cough syrup that is lime green and frightened me at first. I was also prescribed doxovent which is an anti asthmatic and I also got vitamn c. All the drugs have made me feel much better. The whole doctor visit plus medicine costed me 380 rupees or about 10 dollars. It was money well worth spent. I feel much better now and I hope to write again soon!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Taj Mahal
I had the opportunity to go to the Taj Mahal on Janurary 5th. Yes, I know its Jan 13th and I'm sitting down to write this blog post. Anyway, the group had Agra on their mind.
We got up way to early for college students and of course they had to come wake me up. I slept till the time we were supposed to leave because the alarm didn't go off. I quickly got dressed and ready to go see something that I had dreamt about seeing for a lifetime.
We ended up boarding the bus and started our 3 hour journey to Agra. Anyway, we had breakfast on the way. It was so cold that day! We all froze because we didn't think India would get that cold. I wish I wore my layers. It was at freezing for the majority of the morning and the whole night. On top of that, our driver decided to take the back roads and the trip ended up being six hours. It was one of the most miserable rides of my life.
We finally made it to Agra. The Taj Mahal came into view. The government allows only nonpolluting vehicles within a mile because it keeps the marble in better shape. So we parked and took a little ride up to the site. When you pay, they give you shoe covers and a bottle of water. The shoe covers make your feet look like elves!
It was cool entering and it was there.
I can't describe seeing it because there are so many words that could be used. Its hard to pick just one! We were all snapping photos away for the first few minutes.
As you walk up, you can just sense the majesticness and grandeur of the place. Everything about the Taj is symmetrical. There is a mosque built on one side and they have a building mirroring the mosques. The work that went into the place.
I finally entered to see the tomb of Shan Jan's second wife. She was the most beloved. She died in childbirth and it was her 14th! I just couldn't believe that she lasted that long. It was neat to see the inside but at the same time disappointing. There was so many people inside that it made it hard to enjoy.
After the Taj, we ended up going to the Agra Fort. We ended up being more entertained by the monkeys and ended up watching them for awhile.
Then we had dinner and it was one of the best dinners we had while in India. The food was so good!
Besides the miserable bus ride, it ended up being a good day! Signing off!
We got up way to early for college students and of course they had to come wake me up. I slept till the time we were supposed to leave because the alarm didn't go off. I quickly got dressed and ready to go see something that I had dreamt about seeing for a lifetime.
We ended up boarding the bus and started our 3 hour journey to Agra. Anyway, we had breakfast on the way. It was so cold that day! We all froze because we didn't think India would get that cold. I wish I wore my layers. It was at freezing for the majority of the morning and the whole night. On top of that, our driver decided to take the back roads and the trip ended up being six hours. It was one of the most miserable rides of my life.
We finally made it to Agra. The Taj Mahal came into view. The government allows only nonpolluting vehicles within a mile because it keeps the marble in better shape. So we parked and took a little ride up to the site. When you pay, they give you shoe covers and a bottle of water. The shoe covers make your feet look like elves!
It was cool entering and it was there.
I can't describe seeing it because there are so many words that could be used. Its hard to pick just one! We were all snapping photos away for the first few minutes.
As you walk up, you can just sense the majesticness and grandeur of the place. Everything about the Taj is symmetrical. There is a mosque built on one side and they have a building mirroring the mosques. The work that went into the place.
I finally entered to see the tomb of Shan Jan's second wife. She was the most beloved. She died in childbirth and it was her 14th! I just couldn't believe that she lasted that long. It was neat to see the inside but at the same time disappointing. There was so many people inside that it made it hard to enjoy.
After the Taj, we ended up going to the Agra Fort. We ended up being more entertained by the monkeys and ended up watching them for awhile.
Then we had dinner and it was one of the best dinners we had while in India. The food was so good!
Besides the miserable bus ride, it ended up being a good day! Signing off!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
India so far...
Hi Everyone,
I haven't had a chance to update my blog so I'll start from the beginning. As you know, I flew out on the 26th. Well, my flight did not go as plan. Our 2 hour stop in Paris ended up being a 24 hr stop. Let's just say, the Charles De Gaulles airport is one heck of a maze and it took us a few hours to get out of the place. I got a free hotel and some meal vouchers. Jen(my flight buddy) and I decided to go out to explore the city of Paris. We ended up meeting to awesome girls named Estzer and Julia. They are from Hungary and the United States. Their dad actually lived in Paris and they knew Paris well. All four of us piled into a taxi and headed out from the hotel. Our first stop was the Arc de Triumph. It was a spectacular site at night. It was all lighted up and I ended up taking a few pictures. After that, we hit the Aux Champs Elyesses to look at the shops. The streets were all light with lights and the avenue was gorgeous. Our first stop was in an everything shop and that had jokey stuff in it. There was also food and a magazine shop. Then after that, we looked at a few car shops. They had some amazing cars in there. I enjoyed looking at them very much. We also went to a clothing shop where I could have easily spent some money. I saw some pretty shoes that I almost bought but didn't have enough money for. We then went to a cafe, I had a gallete chocolat. It was delicious. After the cafe, we hopped the metro to go to the Eiffel Tower. It was gorgeous. The whole thing was lighted up and it also twinkled. I didn't get to climb up the Tower because I didn't have the proper clothing and it was so cold. In the park, they had a winter carnival and we looked around. All the stuff was so cool and I wish I had money to spend. Off to the hotel, we went after seeing the Tower. We were cold and hungry. So we had dinner with the girls and headed off to bed because we needed our sleep!
We got up and got on the shuttle to catch our flight. Our flight finally departed after a 4 hour delay. We arrived in Delhi early morning and at our hotel even earlier in the morning.
We got up and ready to go for our day in Delhi. We had breakfast and then headed to the ATM to get some money. I have never seen so many dogs, cows or goats in the street before. After our little trip to the ATM, we loaded the bus. Our first stop was an arch dedicated to Indian armies who fought in WWI and some other wars. The arch was beautiful. Anyway after that, we went to the Red Fort. It was gorgeous even with most of it stripped. We learned that it was built by a Mughal emperor. The Mughals were Islamic and it was laid out in fashion to what heaven would look like. We also took a walking tour of Old Delhi. Oh my was that exhausting. I have never seen so many people in my life. I'm surprised we didn't lose anybody. Again, lots of cows were present. The walking tour was cool because each market has a theme and Delhi's street food is famous. Too bad, I couldn't eat any! After our tour, we ate at a place called Kareems. It was a kebob place. The mutton was delicious. After that, we headed back to the bus and we had to jump onto the moving bus because there was no where for it to stop. This is basically the end of day 1 because I zonked out for the rest of the bus ride.
The next morning we left for Rajahstan. We took a flight to Jodhpur. I feel like I'm going to be a great flyer at the end of the trip. When we landed, the airport was so cute. We had to walk down the steps to get off the plane. After the plane, we went to the Mehrangah Fort. The guy who gave us directions was a hoot and we ended up taking a audio tour. I again learned a lot about the kings of Rajasthan. All the rooms of the fort were beautiful. A lot of them had gold and ivory inlay. The views from the fort were majestic and worth the hike. After the fort, we went back to the hotel. Our room was very pep to pink and we had a very good laugh about it. We ended up having dinner on the roof top. The views were beautiful. You could see the fort and the palace from that point. After dinner, we all headed to bed.
In the morning, we got up and went to Jaisalmer. This was New Year's eve. It was about a five hour drive there and the scenery was beautiful. It was intersting to see rural India and get a feeling for the difference. All the people's clothes were so brightly colored and beautiful. We made a pit stop at a beautiful resort for a bathroom break and tea. The tea was delicious. The resort was just beautifully laid out. After we left, we did make another stop for lunch and I ate vegetable noodles. It is India's version of Chinese and it was good! We finally made it to our destination at the Mindar Palace. Yes, I stayed at a palace hotel! The hotel was amazing! After checking in, Kia and I went exploring in the city by ourselves. There were so many cool things to see! We looked at a lot of clothing shops and saw a lot of neat stuff! That night, we had a New Year's Party. It was so fun!!!!!!!! We danced and laughed. There were some cultural dancing as well. A male dressed up as a women danced. She pulled our whole group up and had a blast. We shook our hips and did everything she did. We had dinner and continued dancing until the New Year. They set fireworks off for us and that was so neat.
On the next day, we had our camel safari planned. I do have a video to share with you guys. It took about 45 minutes to get there. We arrived and got settled. The tents were gorgeous! Nothing like I was expecting at all. Our camel ride was an experience. Before getting on our camel, I had my head wrapped traditionally and that was an expereince. I had a camel named Babaloo(sp?). It was neat to see all the desert landscapes. The camel was actually really good and I was surprised. The ride was nice and our guide was cool. He made us laugh a few times. Then, we stayed in the desert to watch the sunset. The sunset was beautiful. It was gorgeous! After that, we headed back to camp. We sat around in a half circle and listened to folk music. They also had cultural dancing. I got pulled up twice. The first time was with a man than with a woman. It was quite the experience. After that, we had dinner. Madhu decided to have story time with us. The guide at the fort mentioned seti and she wanted to clarify it for us. It was really sad to hear about all the women who went to their deaths. After our story, we all went to bed.
We headed back to Jaisalmer for another stay. It was a free day for us to do what we want. We just ended up looking at shops for the whole day.
The day after, we headed back to Jodhpur to catch the train. We took the train from there to Delhi. It was an overnight train and we were in sleeper class. I slept most of the trip and felt so good!
After we got back to Delhi, we had lunch. After lunch, we went to visit the Gandhi Memorial. This is where he took his last steps. You have to take your shoes off to go in and see the place. It is cool because all around, there are Gandhi quotes and sayings but in hindi. It was so peaceful and full of such spirit!
This has been my trip so far in India! Tomorrow, I head to the Taj Mahal(Jan 5). I hope to write again soon and give you another update!
I haven't had a chance to update my blog so I'll start from the beginning. As you know, I flew out on the 26th. Well, my flight did not go as plan. Our 2 hour stop in Paris ended up being a 24 hr stop. Let's just say, the Charles De Gaulles airport is one heck of a maze and it took us a few hours to get out of the place. I got a free hotel and some meal vouchers. Jen(my flight buddy) and I decided to go out to explore the city of Paris. We ended up meeting to awesome girls named Estzer and Julia. They are from Hungary and the United States. Their dad actually lived in Paris and they knew Paris well. All four of us piled into a taxi and headed out from the hotel. Our first stop was the Arc de Triumph. It was a spectacular site at night. It was all lighted up and I ended up taking a few pictures. After that, we hit the Aux Champs Elyesses to look at the shops. The streets were all light with lights and the avenue was gorgeous. Our first stop was in an everything shop and that had jokey stuff in it. There was also food and a magazine shop. Then after that, we looked at a few car shops. They had some amazing cars in there. I enjoyed looking at them very much. We also went to a clothing shop where I could have easily spent some money. I saw some pretty shoes that I almost bought but didn't have enough money for. We then went to a cafe, I had a gallete chocolat. It was delicious. After the cafe, we hopped the metro to go to the Eiffel Tower. It was gorgeous. The whole thing was lighted up and it also twinkled. I didn't get to climb up the Tower because I didn't have the proper clothing and it was so cold. In the park, they had a winter carnival and we looked around. All the stuff was so cool and I wish I had money to spend. Off to the hotel, we went after seeing the Tower. We were cold and hungry. So we had dinner with the girls and headed off to bed because we needed our sleep!
We got up and got on the shuttle to catch our flight. Our flight finally departed after a 4 hour delay. We arrived in Delhi early morning and at our hotel even earlier in the morning.
We got up and ready to go for our day in Delhi. We had breakfast and then headed to the ATM to get some money. I have never seen so many dogs, cows or goats in the street before. After our little trip to the ATM, we loaded the bus. Our first stop was an arch dedicated to Indian armies who fought in WWI and some other wars. The arch was beautiful. Anyway after that, we went to the Red Fort. It was gorgeous even with most of it stripped. We learned that it was built by a Mughal emperor. The Mughals were Islamic and it was laid out in fashion to what heaven would look like. We also took a walking tour of Old Delhi. Oh my was that exhausting. I have never seen so many people in my life. I'm surprised we didn't lose anybody. Again, lots of cows were present. The walking tour was cool because each market has a theme and Delhi's street food is famous. Too bad, I couldn't eat any! After our tour, we ate at a place called Kareems. It was a kebob place. The mutton was delicious. After that, we headed back to the bus and we had to jump onto the moving bus because there was no where for it to stop. This is basically the end of day 1 because I zonked out for the rest of the bus ride.
The next morning we left for Rajahstan. We took a flight to Jodhpur. I feel like I'm going to be a great flyer at the end of the trip. When we landed, the airport was so cute. We had to walk down the steps to get off the plane. After the plane, we went to the Mehrangah Fort. The guy who gave us directions was a hoot and we ended up taking a audio tour. I again learned a lot about the kings of Rajasthan. All the rooms of the fort were beautiful. A lot of them had gold and ivory inlay. The views from the fort were majestic and worth the hike. After the fort, we went back to the hotel. Our room was very pep to pink and we had a very good laugh about it. We ended up having dinner on the roof top. The views were beautiful. You could see the fort and the palace from that point. After dinner, we all headed to bed.
In the morning, we got up and went to Jaisalmer. This was New Year's eve. It was about a five hour drive there and the scenery was beautiful. It was intersting to see rural India and get a feeling for the difference. All the people's clothes were so brightly colored and beautiful. We made a pit stop at a beautiful resort for a bathroom break and tea. The tea was delicious. The resort was just beautifully laid out. After we left, we did make another stop for lunch and I ate vegetable noodles. It is India's version of Chinese and it was good! We finally made it to our destination at the Mindar Palace. Yes, I stayed at a palace hotel! The hotel was amazing! After checking in, Kia and I went exploring in the city by ourselves. There were so many cool things to see! We looked at a lot of clothing shops and saw a lot of neat stuff! That night, we had a New Year's Party. It was so fun!!!!!!!! We danced and laughed. There were some cultural dancing as well. A male dressed up as a women danced. She pulled our whole group up and had a blast. We shook our hips and did everything she did. We had dinner and continued dancing until the New Year. They set fireworks off for us and that was so neat.
On the next day, we had our camel safari planned. I do have a video to share with you guys. It took about 45 minutes to get there. We arrived and got settled. The tents were gorgeous! Nothing like I was expecting at all. Our camel ride was an experience. Before getting on our camel, I had my head wrapped traditionally and that was an expereince. I had a camel named Babaloo(sp?). It was neat to see all the desert landscapes. The camel was actually really good and I was surprised. The ride was nice and our guide was cool. He made us laugh a few times. Then, we stayed in the desert to watch the sunset. The sunset was beautiful. It was gorgeous! After that, we headed back to camp. We sat around in a half circle and listened to folk music. They also had cultural dancing. I got pulled up twice. The first time was with a man than with a woman. It was quite the experience. After that, we had dinner. Madhu decided to have story time with us. The guide at the fort mentioned seti and she wanted to clarify it for us. It was really sad to hear about all the women who went to their deaths. After our story, we all went to bed.
We headed back to Jaisalmer for another stay. It was a free day for us to do what we want. We just ended up looking at shops for the whole day.
The day after, we headed back to Jodhpur to catch the train. We took the train from there to Delhi. It was an overnight train and we were in sleeper class. I slept most of the trip and felt so good!
After we got back to Delhi, we had lunch. After lunch, we went to visit the Gandhi Memorial. This is where he took his last steps. You have to take your shoes off to go in and see the place. It is cool because all around, there are Gandhi quotes and sayings but in hindi. It was so peaceful and full of such spirit!
This has been my trip so far in India! Tomorrow, I head to the Taj Mahal(Jan 5). I hope to write again soon and give you another update!
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