Bollywood Hollywood

A Monument of Love

As we made our way south from Rishikesh in the North of India we had a few stops along the way. First, the Taj Mahal, which was a bit of a disaster trying to get to the city in the first place. First as we arrived at the train station to catch the train to Agra (the city where the Taj lies) but because of the fog our train was going to be 6 hours late at the minimum! Then at the train station we meet some kindly strangers who were heading the same way we were and had mentioned that a bus goes to Agra that would get us there earlier than the late train, instead of arriving past 12 we would arrive around 9. Just as the three of us thought we were done with long bumpy, uncomfortable, gross, and dirty bus rides here we were again searching for another 12 hour bus ride – fun! This search for the bus also wasn’t pleasant as we searched the bus stand high and wide to try and find the right bus, with all of the ticket agents putting fingers in the wrong direction saying there are no buses that go to Agra. When in doubt ask kind Indian strangers, which we did, and they let us to the bus to Agra that was in the middle of the bus stand minutes away from leaving to Agra! T.I.I. (This Is India). Just don’t ask. All I have to say is you should have seen Tina – I love you – but it was 6:30 in the morning and the thought of having to go back on a bus again was not very nice, long story short she wasn’t her chipper pleasant self to the ticket agents. Besides just finding the bus it was probably the dirtiest, grossest, run down bus from the 60’s that we ever went on out of all the bus trips we made throughout India and Nepal. The grate was falling apart on the frond of the bus, the floor of the bus looked like the bleachers at the end of a baseball game but worse, and the seats were barely staying up right. Oh! Joyous rides, the best part about these trips was the great company I had. The three of us could make light of situations and joke about the bumpy ride the bathrooms we had to use along the way – I am glad that most of you have never had to experience those types of things. And the lovely stares from all the Indian men who don’t find it weird to look at someone for longer than 10 minutes. We also made light of this situation and made fun faces back to them as we acted like we were kids at an amusement park – we were already being stared out so oh well.

Back to one of the wonders of the world the Taj. It seems bigger in pictures but up close it is one of the most incredible structures I have ever seen. The detail of the work with all of the black and white marble and the intricate flower designs surrounding the outside and inside of the Taj was just stunning. We easily spent almost three hours there beating the crowds by arriving early in the morning which was well worth it. The only disappointment is the foul river behind the Taj, it is a black mucky moving river with no living creatures existing in its waters. Probably the most polluted piece of nature I have ever seen.

Bollywood Hollywood

Yes. Mumbai if you were wondering is where we went next. A brilliant city that I loved. The masses amount of people, the trees, the streets, the old buildings, and the black taxi cabs and not to mention the ocean!!! It kind of felt like New York and L.A. combined but not at the same time since you can’t compare the city to any other really. There also was the extreme gap between rich and poor so apparent – which I didn’t love. Which also reminded me a lot of L.A.

We hit the jack pot in Mumbai. First, I got to visit a friend of mine who had been interning there whom I hadn’t seen in a while and was able to catch her before she went traveling again. And in the first day wondering around the streets we were approached by a Bollywood agent hired specifically to wonder the tourist streets to find ‘white’ people to be extras in Bollywood films. I wasn’t to convinced since some of them can we scams or not nice experience but I am glad that I allowed my sister to talk me into doing because it was fun being a Bollywood star for a day J. The three of us got to star in the remake of the Hollywood version of Step Mom with Julia Roberts. We got to wear new clothes and almost had our make-up done but did not have time to sit for 10 minutes to apply globs of make-up. As we waited for our scene to come – which was an audience in a theater of an elementary school play – we got to jump around and play in the playground on the school grounds. Which the three of us definitely did, swings, see-saw, slides, and humpty dumpty – what more could you ask for? Including the playground we had free breakfast, lunch, and 500 rupees for the day, which doesn’t get you far in Mumbai but the rest of India it could last you a few days. If you want my autograph just let me know… J.

The same day the three of us went out with some of our fellow Bollywood actors and actresses for drinks and then we were planning on going out clubbing but most people decided to stay in for the night drinking. But I didn’t. I wanted to go out. So I convinced the girls to come and find a decent club in the area, which I think they are glad they decided to. The first club we arrived at was pathetic a few stragglers dancing with overly load music. And as the three of us turned to leave some people who had walked in just like us to check the place out asked us what we thought and where we were going. Of course we didn’t know since that was the main place we knew about and since they were locals I told them they should be able to suggest a place to us. As we were walking out they told us about a club and offered us a lift to a place that was around the corner from our hotel – nice right!? The night got better, we barely had enough money to get in but our new found friends helped us get in and paid for part of it. But wait that is not all, they also invited us to their VIP table they reserved pouring us drinks that we couldn’t pay for but that didn’t matter of course its Indian hospitality. It blew me away. Then all we had to do was walk home, a full three minutes!

Mumbai was a whirlwind of three days. And not to mention the great shopping and street food!

Goa

Private beaches. Lots of sun. shorts and tank tops! It was the best laziest week. Period. I didn’t know I could get so dark. Christie asked me a few weeks back what my favorite moment was throughout our trip which she responded with her own. It was this…..at the end of one of our lazy tanning days by the beach we decided to go on a beach run in our bikinis and bare feet along the water. As we ran we were typical 12 year old girls skipping, singing, and jumping our way down the beach. Totally carefree, totally ourselves. I have to agree with Christie that it too was one of my favorite moments of the trip along side our Christmas surprise at the ashram.

Hindi Summer Camp

India – Peace Village

Every once and awhile I get signs or reassurances of my ideas and passions in life which I don’t believe are coincidences. My ride to Dhamshala was one of them. As we headed on our maybe 5 or 6 long bus ride I put my head phones on to pass the up and coming night bus to Dhramshala. I made a nice playlist including the song that gave me my reassurance. It went something like this….. “I am on my way to Dhramashala to meet the highest Lama……..” trippy right? I thought it was wonderful and I instantly thought of Kelin, it being a song she put on my ipod and how wonderful it is to receive a little divine intervention. And in many ways that is exactly how Dhramshala felt like. The small city in the mountains was one of the most refreshing times during the trip, meeting the most interesting, wonderful, brilliant people; a place that will definitely be visited by me again in the future.

Hindi Summer Camp a.k.a. Anand Prakesh Yoga Ashram

Finally, we had some to stop and stay. No more moving after 4 or 5 days, we get to stay at the ashram for over 2 weeks! And spend Christmas and New Year’s. It was much needed peace and relaxation although we did have yoga twice a day morning and afternoon. But after a few days the pain and soreness from not doing much exercise in 2 months went away and I started to really see the effects – like I can touch my toes now! J

Ok ya’ll must be wondering why I have decided to refer the yoga ashram to a summer camp …let me explain. Basically because the main yogi who founded the ashram was not present….we didn’t follow much of the rules J. We talked at any point in the day, we stayed out later than we were supposed to. We laughed and fooled around in yoga class, left the ashram often, which was not advised either. We snuck the cute street puppies into the ashram and laughed late into the night. The ‘American girls’ were said to bring quit the entertainment and life to the ashram. It was easy to know we were the ‘American girls’ since we were the only Americans there!

As most of you know we spent Christmas at the ashram, which I wanted to make special of course. The three of us became Santa’s little helpers to make it a special day for the ashram. First, Christie and I went into town to buy ‘christmas stuff’ (poor Tina was sick) to give each person in the ashram a wee gift and decorate their doors with Merry Christmas. The night before Christmas…..the three of us raided the ashram with ‘the list’ of people who were staying in the ashram and in which rooms. We succeed in decorating each door with wrapping paper, handmade snowflakes, a Christmas note, and gifts at the foot of their door, including an invitation to hot apple cider at Christmas morning breakfast. I didn’t want anyone to know who ‘Santa’ was but most people found out and thanked us for the pleasant surprise. Christmas morning hot apple cider was also welcomed since half the people there had not had cider before in their lives. It was great!

During the afternoon a gang of us from the Ashram went into town to buy blankets and clothes for the local orphanage and families that live in shacks near the main road. After which we went to an orphanage down the street from the Ashram which was one of most special Christmas moments I have had – sorry to be so cheesy but it really was! The kids were, I believe, very well behaved for it being Christmas and we all say Christmas carols together. We would go back and forth they would sing one and then we would sing another ending with them singing us a Bob Dylan song…… ‘and the answer my friend is blowing in the wind…….’I was thinking where on earth am I? Christmas in San Francisco? Then I realized that the head mistress of the orphanage was an old white hippie lady…..a very nice one that could control 40 hyper children.

My time spent at the ashram was refreshing and energizing as well as gaining much needed strength. One of the best parts about the Ashram was the people we met, who ended up being more than just fellow travelers but friends. There was a great set of people who we met making up our minnie ashram gang. O! I forgot to mention the other aspect of the summer camp….drama. You can’t go to summer camp without leaving with some stories of he did she said and so and so likes so and so. The Ashram definitely did not get away from that aspect of summer camp either. It was quit comical I have to say.

We definitely had our adventures as well….a dip in the Ganga river on New Year’s day. That was exciting but extremely freezing considering we are not in the warm part of India and the water is coming straight from the Himalayas. It was refreshing and wonderful to think I dipped in one of the most holist rivers….don’t worry it was really clean, Rishikesh (where the Beatles Ashram was in the 70’s) is closer to the source of the Ganges unlike the other holy city Varanasi. No parasites for me.

After New Year the three of us decided we quit like the ashram and remembering we were hopping from one place to the next in the last three weeks of our trip we decided to stay at the ashram for almost an extra week. The best part about this story was since we decided to stay longer Tina and Christie wanted to move out of the ashram with our Swedish friend Puck to a hotel close by since all three of them didn’t go to both classes everyday and Tina and Puck never ate the Ashram food. Therefore, they found it cheaper for them to move out and I wasn’t about to stay there by myself, for me it would have been the same price. So, after an afternoon of hotel hunting we found a place around the corner from the ashram. We didn’t last long. The first and only night we spent there when we go into the hotel the lights went out when I was on the pot, and the girls were getting ready for bed. Then we jumped on our beds almost breaking our back, it was probably the hardest bed we slept on so far – we definitely forgot to check the bed before we booked the place. Then as we pulled the covers over our heads an amazing musty smell engulfed our nostrils while bugs started coming out of Tina and I’s blanket. Enough said. The next morning we woke up before 7 since none of us slept well, got out of bed backed our bags, left the hotel and were back in the ashram by 7:30am just in time for breakfast at 8 ….hoping that no body would notice we left….and planning on telling people we never left at all. After several sorrys to the manager and a ‘we will never do that again’ it was like we never really left!

The best part about staying longer in one place is you get closer to the people that are there long-term. Because of the length of stay we made connections with people that will continue once we live Rishikesh as well as India. It was nice having a good-bye party before the three of us left feeling like we really made a connection with the people there and nice to hear that we would be missed and that the ashram will be very quite after we leave J. Staying at the ashram was part of the India experience I wanted and received even though it felt like I was at summer camp it still was at the right stage for the three of us spiritually.

Imperfect Picture

Carrying on this adventure in Asia….as I look back on the past 3 months since I have written on my blog not much has happenedJ. Or should I say too much! So I guess I should break down the past few months by stories and themes…….now where did I leave off.

Nepal – Imperfect Picture

Now I have to recall these events from December since that was a few months ago, I apologize for the distant relationship I have been keeping. As I remember I wrote about the refugee camps in Nepal where the three of us visited, maybe people are thinking I have been there the whole time! – except my sister has kindly updated you all on events that have happened since our visit to the camps. The past events have included a 15 hour bus ride to Kathmandu while losing our asses on the way, fun! –and with people throwing bags of vomit over me out the window next to me. Um! Most local people in India or Nepal don’t have a strong stomach that is for sure. But I don’t blame them, those windy roads up or down mountains are not fun.

Kathmandu – the capital of Nepal – was a lively hub of wonders, baggers, seekers, and characters. People are thoughtful and kind, willing to help a few lost souls. And oh boy did we get lost! Picture, literally, being in a maze that doesn’t make sense, with crowds of people walking the streets, and being in a hippies Disneyland all at the same time. There were times when I just didn’t care what direction we were going in anymore because I clearly had no idea where we were half of the time. Despite this madness we managed to find our hotel every night from helpful hands and our three brains.

The unexpected always happens. A hundred dollars, pictures, cards, and your personal wallet gone. You feel violated, used, and obviously taken advantage of. And shocking when you know when it happened – the picture by the lake. Damn picture. But! I told myself if I try and practice peace in my life it applies to any moment, not just the ones that you like or the ones that make you feel better but the moments in life when things really really suck and you get upset – just mildly. Maintain peace and realize that who ever took it probably needed the money more than I did – everything is replaceable expect for my pictures. Again I have to tell myself the situation could have been way worse – so if you want peace in your life promote it under any circumstances. I reminded myself stolen wallets are not a scapegoat to react outside of your principles.

Off to the other beautiful lake in Nepal on the doorsteps of the Himalayas – Pokhara. Us lucky girls got to see a Nepali version of Romeo and Juliet by high schoolers, floated on the lake surrounded by the Himalayas, rode bikes to waterfalls and caves, and hiked to mysterious pagodas on the top of mountains. Spectacular. Beautiful. Truly amazing. Definitely a place where I could see myself taking yearly vacations if it wasn’t on the other side of the world. What are you gonnna do?

Who ever knew there were jungles in Nepal? Revealing my ignorance I was surprised to know you could go on safaris in the jungles of Nepal. Elephant rides. Private treks into the jungle with a guide. Tours of local villages. Bird watching (or just bird hoping). Merry Christmas to ourselves. We splurged a bit and went on a safari tour to Bardia National Park in Western Nepal. A fun ride, especially because this park has fewer tourists, which made our bus ride to the park quit entertaining. Fortunately J the bus ride was about 15 hours long through the middle of the night and we arrived at 5am to be picked up by the resort guide’s jeep – hoping there was coordination between the resort and the booking office. It started off on a winedy mountain road that got several people puking including the guy next to me – we had to switch seats. Then there were the hourly comments from Mr. Drunk who I kindly told off and resorted to only staring and giggling for the rest of the trip. And once and while would plop himself in the aisle stool since there was so many people on the bus. He would lay his drunk head on my arm rest which I would have none of. I am not willing to take risks or be kind in this situation. Each time he would try and lay his little heady down I would give him a little elbow gab into his arm – never really getting my point. So after he tried for the umpteenth time I gave his arm a good elbow gab that threw him back butt in the air laying flat on the ground of the bus which did get his attention. He moved. But wait that’s not all! Christina had a hand picker. Now this snatch and grabber was a bit inexperienced putting it politely. He had the audacity to stick his hand in the front pocket of my sister’s backpack – which had nothing in it expect for dirty tissues – that was sitting at her feet clearly feeling his hand groping around her bag. Here comes his second mistake – medaling with my sister’s things especially after she is tried and uncomfortable. (Tina I say this in the highest regards of you J). Well as you may guess she had none of it swearing the kid into submission and who got off the bus at the next stop walking home ashamed I hope. Not so bad right? Well, the seats could not have gotten any more uncomfortable – maybe a bus from the 80’s that never got improvements. And we also had hourly tea stops making our bus ride longer than necessary. Despite these things I must say that our bus journeys were some of the most exciting, weird, uncomfortable, crazy, adventurous experiences throughout our trip that I count as some of my favorite times – oddly enough.

After a two day adventure in the jungles of Nepal – unlucky seeing any wild animals expect for almost having a close encounter with a wild boar, that was fun, we headed to the border once again to enter India officially, crossing the entire country of Nepal. Never expected that either. We entered from the East in a little border town called Karkabitta and left at the West end closer to our yoga destination. Our day in crossing the border was quit the journey as well.

We clearly left the jungle resort in time to cross the border on time so the customs office didn’t close on us, but things never work out the way you plan, right? As we head out it rains on us as we are in the back of the jeep – I am exaggerating it was only sprinkling but still. Then an hour into our bus ride we stop for about an hour to help another bus who broke down. And after much clanking, greasing, waiting, and peeing outside the bus was not fixed! So you must guess what happened next? Everyone on that bus got onto ours – tripling the capacity I am sure of an already crowded bus. But the best part was I got a cute girl to hold for about an hour! We hit the border town at least an hour late with the three of us desperately having to go the bathroom – not just pee – but I won’t name any names. After a swarm of eager rickshaw pullers, taxi drivers, and horse carriage riders deliberated what we needed and where we wanted to go and considering the time crunch we decided to go with the carriage rider, crossing the border by carriage at night with one horse – I don’t like to mention that part there I had to sit the other way in the carriage. It was a wonderful chase to the Indian customs counter just in time to get our passports stamped and then cross the large dam in the complete dark by carriage once again and arriving to a hotel advised by a friend that didn’t exist, instead we were placed at a dingy hotel right next to the bus stop to Haridwar (our next stop) with a crazy hotel manager who had us waiting for 3 hours the next morning for our bus which was supposed to have left at 6am in the morning – I think that gives away what time we woke up in order to catch the 6am bus.