Thought I would write one more time before our time in India comes to an end next week. It has been a wonderful and colorful time here.
This week we are enjoying being at the seaside - beaches (not very populated), fishermen (with new boats after the tsunami), ruins from the 8th century, stone carvers working, some non-Indian food (and Indian), relative quiet from the noises of India, no traffic to speak of, ambling around and enjoying being, yoga (for me) each day, still the garbage and smells present and sunshine every single day that we have been away!! ...hope that we manage to bring some of this sunshine home with us.
We are going to spend a few days in Chennai - it will remind us of the India that greeted us when we arrived. We would like some time to go into a few shops as we have not done any shopping!!! on our trip.
As we think of leaving we think of all the wonderful experiences that we have had and hopefully we have a little better understanding of India. We first saw congestion, noise, poverty, garbage and it is still there as we come closer to leaving. There is a lot of color, good hotels, historical and religious sites, people, and experiences that affected those impressions but quite a lot of that is still there. We realize that we enjoyed the 'real India' but that we also enjoyed and relaxed at the more touristy areas - a must for anyone that wants to enjoy a long stay in India. For me, I loved being able to participate in so many yoga classes - I may have to return to do some more!
Thursday, February 9, 2006
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Feb. 1, 2006
It is wonderful to travel but memories are made from the people you meet twisted into the things that you do and see.
Yes, India is sooo full of people and noise!!! We had coffee with a German lady yesterday who has spent the last 5 years helping an outcaste (bottom caste) of people trying to discourage prostitution and thus aids within the family and extended unit. This then means coming up with alternative employment and power for women.....
last week met a women who spent time in Malawi helping women photograph and put their views into pictures. They went from subdued to much more confident and created some images through the programme. Interesting stuff that happens all over the world....
The world is such an interesting place.....
Yes, India is sooo full of people and noise!!! We had coffee with a German lady yesterday who has spent the last 5 years helping an outcaste (bottom caste) of people trying to discourage prostitution and thus aids within the family and extended unit. This then means coming up with alternative employment and power for women.....
last week met a women who spent time in Malawi helping women photograph and put their views into pictures. They went from subdued to much more confident and created some images through the programme. Interesting stuff that happens all over the world....
The world is such an interesting place.....
Pondicherry
Emerging from the chaos and hectic less touristy part of a poorer state, we have just arrived in Pondicherry, back on the tourist route. We had a cappucino and baguette today - fresh and excellent!
It was quite a challenge travelling where fewer tourists go - the hotels are good and clean but it is definitely Indian food three times a day - great coffee in the south. I even like the food but it gets a bit much seeing similar stuff three times a day! Curry for breakfast - quite nice - reminds me of 25 years ago in Sri Lanka with 2 babies in tow! We enjoyed the temples but found that there was not much else to see or do - so we used the hotel room as a refuge for a couple of hours each day.
The noise never stops!!! The bus driver definitely converses with a honk at everything on the road - he is the biggest vehicle and makes the loudest and most persistent horn noises. He warns everything in his way that he is coming. In fact, the bus driver has a special little lever that allows him to toot all the time. It is so hard on my ear drums - the drivers must go deaf eventually. Then the rickshaw driver has his specially installed horn as well - its little sound to go with a little vehicle. Size and noise of horns are in direct proportion.
Tamil Nadu, the state that we are in now is poorer than Kerala where we have just come from. You can see it in the housing and rundown nature of everything. Also, English is hardly spoken. Yesterday, I asked the reception at the hotel if he spoke English. He said - yes, so ..I asked why so many people shave their heads and put a yellow powder on their head. He tried to take me to a hair dresser - guess that his English was not as good as he professed. Anyways, apparently shaved heads are for good luck. ...Right now I have a lot of curls on my head - and I still expect to wash and wear after 5 months without a haircut! Clive is going for his third haircut soon!
We expect to slow down and enjoy the amenities here for the next week or so. I shall probably find a yoga class and then we will entertain ourselves between looking for some interesting food to try.
It was quite a challenge travelling where fewer tourists go - the hotels are good and clean but it is definitely Indian food three times a day - great coffee in the south. I even like the food but it gets a bit much seeing similar stuff three times a day! Curry for breakfast - quite nice - reminds me of 25 years ago in Sri Lanka with 2 babies in tow! We enjoyed the temples but found that there was not much else to see or do - so we used the hotel room as a refuge for a couple of hours each day.
The noise never stops!!! The bus driver definitely converses with a honk at everything on the road - he is the biggest vehicle and makes the loudest and most persistent horn noises. He warns everything in his way that he is coming. In fact, the bus driver has a special little lever that allows him to toot all the time. It is so hard on my ear drums - the drivers must go deaf eventually. Then the rickshaw driver has his specially installed horn as well - its little sound to go with a little vehicle. Size and noise of horns are in direct proportion.
Tamil Nadu, the state that we are in now is poorer than Kerala where we have just come from. You can see it in the housing and rundown nature of everything. Also, English is hardly spoken. Yesterday, I asked the reception at the hotel if he spoke English. He said - yes, so ..I asked why so many people shave their heads and put a yellow powder on their head. He tried to take me to a hair dresser - guess that his English was not as good as he professed. Anyways, apparently shaved heads are for good luck. ...Right now I have a lot of curls on my head - and I still expect to wash and wear after 5 months without a haircut! Clive is going for his third haircut soon!
We expect to slow down and enjoy the amenities here for the next week or so. I shall probably find a yoga class and then we will entertain ourselves between looking for some interesting food to try.
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