Mozzeenet

I’ve now uploaded my favourite photos from my India trip into my Flickr account. View them here.

Hard to believe I’ve been back for almost a month now. It took a while to settle back into work, routines and everyday life in Australia. On the other hand it was such bliss to have a hot shower (fingernails were constantly black over there) and sleep in my lovely, comfortable bed when I got back. And of course to see Andrew and my family again.

It truly was an amazing journey with it’s highs and lows. Extreme peaks and troughs actually. As I’ve said to many, it was the hardest place I’ve travelled to and also the place that evoked the most emotions. On the one hand, amazement at the monuments and temples, diverse and colourful cultures, vibrant street activity (horns, crowds, cows, sarees of every colour, cycle and auto rickshaws, sellers, road-side stalls and packed buses which look like they’re about to collapse) and enthusiasm and friendliness of the people I met. On the other hand, sadness at seeing crippled beggars and dirty street kids wearing filthy rags. And also disappointment with touts and sellers being dishonest to try to make a living as well as frustration when I was continually pestered by them. There are so many aspects to it I really can’t begin to describe what it was like though.

A wonderful part was visiting Amit’s parents in Dhanbad and seeing where Amit grew up and the schools he went to. Being given such a gorgeous saree by Amit’s mother was very touching and it was so much fun being dressed up in it and attending a puja ceremony held at their house for the God Lakshmi. That was fantastic to experience. The family priest led the ceremony and many neighbours and relatives attended. One of the neighbours also gave me a lovely shawl which was so kind of her. Amit’s Dad was fantastic too in organising a change of plans due to planned strikes in Kolkata - I had to catch a train back to Patna and then a flight from Patna to Kolkata. He also took me to meet some very interesting people in Dhanbad where he is influential in the mining industry. Dhanbad is a mining town.

I also loved meeting up with Amit’s friends Rudra and Pinky in Kolkata. They were so generous giving me a tour of the city area including the Victoria Monument, view of the Ganges and some shopping spots as well as picking me up and dropping me off at the airport. I so enjoyed meeting some young Indian people around my own age and getting their perspective on their country.

The rest of our group has just left for Delhi so now the start of my solo travel… but not for long as I am so lucky to be able to experience true Indian life with Amit’s parents and friends from Tuesday. It has been hard for us to get to know Indian people because, as Western tourists, we have constantly been approached by people wanting to sell us something and have an ulterior motive for talking to us. This unfortunately makes us wary. That’s why I am extremely lucky to be staying with Amit’s family on Tuesday and Wednesday night and Rudra and his family on Thursday.

Varanasi has been really interesting. A walk along the gats opens up a flurry of activity with people preparing bodies to be burnt, many sadhus (guru-type pilgrims who shun society - not sure how else to describe them but they often wear robes, have dreadlocks, a stick and face markings), people bathing in the holy river, cows, goats, boats plying up and down and people selling things.

I am now catching a bus tomorrow morning direct to Bodh Gaya instead of train and I will be picked up at 5.30am tomorrow morning to be taken to the bus station. Usually I would be grimacing at such an early departure but I am actually happy because it means more time in Bodh Gaya. I will only get a couple of hours there of daylight rather than the whole day as planned but at least I get to see it. The roads to there are pretty bad apparently and I am going in a local bus so it will take 7-8 hours. I have bought my bottled water, biscuits and chips in preparation. I am also prepared for bollywood movies and hindi music (as experienced on the trip to here from Allahabad!).

This is going to be quick but so far India has been amazing - it’s certainly an intense experience - noisy, dusty, colourful and varied - well that was Delhi anyway.

Everywhere there are people doing so many different things for a living, street sellers, auto and cycle rickshaws, horse-drawn carts, rubbish, markets.

We visited an amazing mosque and Old Delhi with its narrow alleyways where we saw the spice market and had some chai made by the side of the road (very milky and sweet).

We haggled with very persistent sellers - a stressful experience. I came out of it with a nice shawl and a few more grey hairs. Many touts and sellers on the streets.

Now in Agra and just saw the Taj - very beautiful. We also visited the Agra Fort which was amazing.

Had a funny tummy yesterday - too much spicy curry. Took steps and feeling better today - on plain food for a while.

We’ve taken local buses - very crowded and dirty. One broke down on the way to some Islamic ruins.

The group is good and looking forward to going to a remote village for the next few days.