India India India!!
Kolkata, Chennai, and Goa
Hello everyone!!! It has been a while since I wrote about my adventures here in India soooo here goes yet another roley four pager!!!
Kolkata. What a place! After staying a while in Darjeeling- a great place by the way- Kolkata proved to be quite a change. From mountains and clouds to large, beautiful English buildings and diesel fumes. The heat and congestion was also something I needed to get used to… again hahaha. Regardless, what a place full of history, culture, and people.
From a touristy point of view, the Victoria memorial was interesting to visit. It was said that the British built this giant marble building as a way to ecplise the taj mahal. In my opinion, they weren’t even close. Sure its very large, made of marble, and dedicated to a woman, but it shows the pure power of the British. The Taj, however, is just freaking beautiful! The curves, the inlay of precious gems, the perfect symmetry (except for the location of the tomb of its creator Shah Jahan) I say the Taj outshines this memorial.
In front was a statue of Queen victoria in her older years. Our guide explained that she didn’t look very beautiful when she got older, as seen by this statue, so people refered to this piece as the “she-queen.” Yikes! Inside, however, was a statue of her in her younger years, ie the “she-queen.”
Inside were many paintings, drawings, canons, weapons, and statues of various prominent figures. In one wing was an overall display of Kolkata’s history. The Babus really stood out for me! If you want to talk about ballers, then the Babus’ were balllllin’! They got really rich because they were the middlemen for the British in terms of trade. One dude would even light his cigarettes with 10 rupee bills… like c’mon!
Another interesting place was the Botanical gardens, especially the banyan tree. This tree is sooooooo big… like seriously… HUGE!!!! The moment I saw it I thought to myself, “how sick would it be to have a tree house on that bad boy!?!?” hahaha. The trunk was like 15 m wide and its branches/ root-trunks stretched for 14 acres (basically 14 legislatures). O_O. HOLY CRAP!!! All from ONE TREE!!
Aside from the touristy sites (there’s a lot more but I have still have lots to say!) we also visited various schools, specifically Loreto Day School. Thise was an awesome experience for me!! The discipline, the enthusiasm… what a site to witness! We sat in for a class that talked about their individual dreams for India. Some said for more peace, others for helping the poor… some said education for the poorest of children and care of the elderly… what’s interesting is that this group of grade 6 students already do these!!
Every Thursday, the older students would go out to the villages and teach the students in other schools!! They often had more control over the class than the teachers!! And they’re still kids!! I had the lucky experience of witnessing this. After a long and VERY bumpy ride (blehhhh motion sickness) we reached a school. At first I thought the girls (Loreto day school is an all girl school by the way) were going to teach what looked like an all boy school… I was like, “oh dear…” I could see the guys in some of the rooms above taking pictures of the girls I were acompanying… Some of the girls I were with were really upset; I was soo ready to knock someone out (it really made me mad!). When were got in, the girls knew exactly what they were doing. They walk deep into the school building. I was surprised to see a “school within a school.” It wasn’t classrooms of junior high boys they were teaching BUT kindergarten to grade 4 boys and girls. Unlike the junior high boys, these students didn’t have uniforms. I sat in on a grade 2 class. These kids were soo cute. The room was about 20-25 kids full. When these girls walked, you should have seen these kids! They sat up straight and tall on the floor with their little backpacks in front of them… *cue awwwww.* Once the girls were set up, I was amazed with the confidence and discipline they enforced. They looked like pros! They really emulated the old school form of teaching I witnessed during their classes. There was one little girl that really caught my attention. She was a young and frail looking little girl who was coughing a lot. She was sick but the enthusiasm and will to learn was soooo bright in her eyes. Whenever the Loreto girls would ask a question, her hand always rose first. I know she doesn’t know this, but I felt inspired.
After a bit of this, I went upstairs to see another group. This time it was a grade 4 class. What I really remember most was not what happened during their class (again an impressive show) but after. Some of the Loreto girls (grade nine students) were asking me very interesting questions like what culture in Canada was like. The main topic, however, seemed to be about marriage and love (DO NOT GET ANY IDEAS hahaha). They were very curious, let me tell you that! I guess they were wondering about this because of arranged marriages. Many girls would be married at a very young age so I can see their interest. They asked me about divorce and what happened to the wives. I told them and they told me why they asked. They said that when a girl is married, they leave their family and become part of their husband’s family. If they are divorced, they said they would have nothing at all… they are, in a sense, dependent completely on this new family so divorce is a scary thought eh? There’s more to this convo but I wouldn’t be doing it justice by typing it all out. Hehehe. At one point, they said, “We’ve never been so frank with a foreigner before.” =).
Anyways! Kolkata was the last time the group of us were all together… *tear*. We ended it off with a dinner and celebration of Father Creamer’s birthday. What a great time! We all went to the airport the next day and separated our ways. A day of mixed emotions indeed: sad that our course has ended but excited to continue the next chapter of my adventures!
Chennai---------
Moving to the south was definitely a change too!! Yet another face of india! The south is a very beautiful place. Sooo many palm trees. The streets are busy but use environmentally friendly rickshaws. The streets are not very congested… oh and a 66 km long beach line with a 1 km wide sand zone lines this area too….. SIIIIIICKKKK!!!!!!!
We saw a LOT of things here!! Aside from the very modern places (i.e. the malls) we visited one of the Jesuit school’s here. The campus is absolutely beautiful! Lots of green space, numerous sports facilities, beautiful gardens, massive church, and the number one ranked business program. You have to see it to believe it!
If you guys ever go to Chennai, you have to see Fort St. George and then go for a beach walk. Inside the fort was a statue of Cornwallis, the same dude who also made a fort in nova scotia, canada!! There’s a also a church that a man named “Yale” (a famous university in the states) funded. Sooo much history here! The beach walk was sooo fun! Except… well, my tan will speak for itself XD.
During one of our stays, we went to Pondicherry. Here we saw many of the colonial buildings that French established. This too was by the beach… man, beaches rock!!
The highlight, for me anyways, was Mahabalipuram, home of the giant stone temples. First we visited some of the giant monolith stone temples dedicated to Shiva, durga, parvati, and others. What’s crazy is the size of these buildings, made from a SINGLE boulder, and carved from the top down! Imagine standing up and making a 5 m high by 20 long, by 5 m wide building from your floor down… absolutely crazy!!!
After visiting these giant stone temples, we went to the sea… ahh the sea… apparently it has swallowed 4 or 5 other temples during this cities lifetime. It use dto be a very busy port city soo having many hindu temples allowed for places for many to go and worship. Anyways, all that remained, from what I could see, was just one temple… and let me tell you, its one BEAST of a temple!! Soooo large and full of character. Its now a unesco heritage site too. Sometimes I think its not fair that Winnipeg has nothing like this XD hahaha. The grandeur of it all; it must have been quite the site back in its day.
Once we got back along a road full of flags (there must have been some bigshot or movie star in the area), we packed our stuff, said our good byes to our new friends, and we went to Goa.
Goa-----
The first I have to say is…. Palm trees, white sands, and blue waters… one of te nicest places ever!!! The resort we stayed at, Taj village, was absolutely ridiculous!!! I can recall walking from my mini house to the cliff side where I could see the Arabian sea (in Chennai was te Bay of Bengal) and the powerful waves rising out of its bed only to crash against the old portuguse fort just opposite where I was staying. To my right was a giant ocean liner that hit ground and abandoned. AHH!!! TOOO COOOL!!!! Now in Goa, one thing you will notice is the Portuguese influence. The Portuguese were here way before the british so the Indian culture and people here are heavily influenced.
I went to many places here. Old Goa was one of them. This side of India looked completely different from everthing else that I’ve seen! Instead of highrise buildings or old british buildings, I saw brightly coloured Portuguese style homes during its colonial days! This one area in particular with all te churches looked just like Europe. Imagine Assiniboine Park but full of massive basilicas, cathedrals, and formation houses just a stones throw away from each other. Apparently these churches were soooo close to one another that one cleargy man wrote to Rome saying that “their bells and our bells, their choir and our choir” were so loud that it created cacophony or just too much noise! Of course, each church would try to out do each other.. hehehe. One of the places we went to was st. Xaviers or “Bom Jesu.” Here was the OLDEST Jesuit church and OLDEST/ FIRST Jesuit noviate ever!!! Inside, the intricate wood work was quite astonishing. To my left were relics from various martyrs and saints. To my right was the tomb and body of St. Ignatius’s closest friend, St. Xavier! What’s crazy is that Father Creamer, one of his Jesuit friends, Christian, my travel buddy, and myself had a mass right on the marble on his tomb! How crazy is that?!? We also visited the Jesuit residence and met with one of the Superior generals of the order. Coooool.
After our tour here, we went to st. Francis of assis’s cathedral and to another church that had a wedding. I must say, these Indian weddings are amazing! I mean, we were in our travelling clothes and the parents of the groom gave us food and invited us to come to the reception… talk about hospitality!!!
One of the most interesting churches we saw was the Ruins of St. Augustine. There wasn’t much of a church left except for broken walls and a massive TOWER that Christian climbed… half way. XD. You have to see just how HIGH this thing goes though!!! Spiderman, spiderman lol. Its so interesting and kind of myseterious in the sense tat I wish I could have seen what was here before. At one point the Portuguese were told to leave Goa so this church was abandoned and is now in ruins.
What I really like about Goa is how it looks like home back in the Philippines. At one point I was riding on a motorcycle, feeling the wind through my short, 1 cm high hair, the sun burning my already tanned face (noooo!!!), looking at the beautiful palm trees and the watery, green rice fields. I must say, I got super nostalgic that day… what topped it off was going to the markets and the Jesuit retreat house that showed me AWESOME views of the beach and sea. The market was on a cliff and I could see the sea eroding the red stone at the very bottom, washing away the red sand, turning the water itself rusty in colour. From the retreat house I could peer out into the sea, watching the black stones hold back the strong waves. After a short walk from the retreat house was a beach full of life. There were lone fishermen casting their nets in knee high water. There were also groups of fishermen hauling their catches off their boats and neatly folding the nets. There were parents holding their little kids hands as the child ran from the waves, only to to playfully scream when they got wet… too awesome!!!
Overall, goa was awesome!
Anyways, these were the last three places I visited!! I’m currently in Mumbai and back from visiting elaphanta island. I narrowly excaped some super ferocious evil monkeys that actually stole two peoples bags in front of my eyes and wrecked havoc to us tourists… AHHH!!! In an attempt to save his bag (the popcorn already eaten by the monkeys unfortunately) this dude bought some bananas and a big stick. He through his banana like a grenade and made a dash to save his belongings. I swear, the guy who created family guy MUST have been harassed by one of these monkeys!
Hope you enjoyed reading this super long note again… hahaha! Miss you all!!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
So the trip has come to an end, for most of us... Father Creamer, Christian, and Roley are off to relax on a beach in Goa and make a couple of stops in the south, Sandra and Kevin are off to roam the land for another week, and the rest of us are going to spend the next week just trying to readjust our sleeping and eating patterns. We all talked about the food that we craved the most, and the dinner that we planned to have on our first night back... peanut butter, bbq, perogies, salad, steak, ice in a drink, cold beer, hmmmmm.
On our last night together, we all went for dinner to say goodbye and to have an early celebration for Father Creamer's birthday. In listening to the conversations of the group, we were all very excited to see our loved ones in Canada, but also very thankful for the experience. Personally, I am very grateful that I had this opportunity, as most of the locals that we met along the way were not able to afford anything close to this kind of an expense. Most of all, I'm glad that I was able to meet so many people who take an interest in humanity and meeting the world. Without question, it was the relationships that made this trip so much more than just a summer vacation or some credit towards a degree. As one of our tour guides reminded me on our walk down the hill from the Amber Fort - we can find these relationships and answers to our questions on our own time, and often in our own backyard. We don't actually have to fly thousands of miles to a foreign land or climb to the top of a mountain in order to look inside our hearts and find what we're looking for in life. With that said, India was amazing and I would encourage anyone to go! Just watch out for the street food - it tastes great and costs pennies, but make sure it's cooked through...
On our last night together, we all went for dinner to say goodbye and to have an early celebration for Father Creamer's birthday. In listening to the conversations of the group, we were all very excited to see our loved ones in Canada, but also very thankful for the experience. Personally, I am very grateful that I had this opportunity, as most of the locals that we met along the way were not able to afford anything close to this kind of an expense. Most of all, I'm glad that I was able to meet so many people who take an interest in humanity and meeting the world. Without question, it was the relationships that made this trip so much more than just a summer vacation or some credit towards a degree. As one of our tour guides reminded me on our walk down the hill from the Amber Fort - we can find these relationships and answers to our questions on our own time, and often in our own backyard. We don't actually have to fly thousands of miles to a foreign land or climb to the top of a mountain in order to look inside our hearts and find what we're looking for in life. With that said, India was amazing and I would encourage anyone to go! Just watch out for the street food - it tastes great and costs pennies, but make sure it's cooked through...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
children teaching children... and adults
Today we traveled two hours by bus with grade 7-9 girls from the Loreto Day School to the remote villages of Kolkata. We all separated into small groups and followed along with the girls as they calmly walked into the schools of each village and proceeded to teach children from grades 1-5. And they did it quite well. It's a program known as the "village outreach program" designed to connect the two groups of different socioeconomic status, empower the girls, and educate the children (all of them). I love to see innovative programs like this, and to be honest, I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it. Kind of reminds me of our "reading buddies" program back home in Canada, but with a greater impact. Once again, I'd write more, but I'm sweating like a hog. Gotta get outta this sauna...
Bye for now.
Bye for now.
Carrie in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Greetings Friends! We arrived in Kolkata from Darjeeling 3 days ago...we slept on a train - or rather tried to sleep - and arrived 3 hours late. Apparently they had to fix a section of the track before we could continue the journey! India is in a constant state of repair.
We have spent most of our time at the Loreto School in Kolkata - an incredible institution managed by Sr. Cyril. She asked me to work with her teachers 10 minutes after meeting her! I spoke to 20 teachers for 90 minutes on the foundation of literacy instruction and provided some practical tools for the staff to use with the students in their classrooms. I think they were pleased. William was also invited to teach some classes to the students on bio-diversity. I think the students were thrilled.
We visited Mother Theresa's tomb today as well as did some volunteer work at a village school - 44 children, age 6 - one chalkboard - no desks, no storybooks...the children had a scribbler each and some had a pencil. It was quite incredible. There were cows in the field, boys swimming in a small pond that was formed from a recent down pour and children going to the washroom on a heap of gravel outside the classroom wall. Yet all are eager to learn and were rather disciplined. They are happy to see us and be with us - to have their pictures taken and to get the answers 'right'. It was a very incredible scene....and all in 40 + celcius!
Tomorrow we continue our tour and see a few more monuments...Presently I am with Jeff and Amanda wandering through the markets. The sights and smells continue to overwhelm me and I've grown accustomed to bringing my cotton scarf with me wherever we go so I can breathe into it as we walk.
Our time is almost up at this cafe...know that I love and miss you all and long to see you SOON!
Namaste!
Carrie
We have spent most of our time at the Loreto School in Kolkata - an incredible institution managed by Sr. Cyril. She asked me to work with her teachers 10 minutes after meeting her! I spoke to 20 teachers for 90 minutes on the foundation of literacy instruction and provided some practical tools for the staff to use with the students in their classrooms. I think they were pleased. William was also invited to teach some classes to the students on bio-diversity. I think the students were thrilled.
We visited Mother Theresa's tomb today as well as did some volunteer work at a village school - 44 children, age 6 - one chalkboard - no desks, no storybooks...the children had a scribbler each and some had a pencil. It was quite incredible. There were cows in the field, boys swimming in a small pond that was formed from a recent down pour and children going to the washroom on a heap of gravel outside the classroom wall. Yet all are eager to learn and were rather disciplined. They are happy to see us and be with us - to have their pictures taken and to get the answers 'right'. It was a very incredible scene....and all in 40 + celcius!
Tomorrow we continue our tour and see a few more monuments...Presently I am with Jeff and Amanda wandering through the markets. The sights and smells continue to overwhelm me and I've grown accustomed to bringing my cotton scarf with me wherever we go so I can breathe into it as we walk.
Our time is almost up at this cafe...know that I love and miss you all and long to see you SOON!
Namaste!
Carrie
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
heat, humidity, rain, and limited personal space :)
So Kolkata has proven to be quite the test of endurance. As someone said this morning, "it's just a challenge for us Canadians to get up in this kind of environment". It's something that takes getting used to I guess. I think we're doing okay - as long as there's a fan nearby.
We've spent the last couple of days at the Loreto Day School, and once again, I'm super impressed by what I've seen. This place (see Gemma's blog) runs like a well oiled machine... certainly not a porsche or a lamborghini, but just as innovative, more powerful, and way more efficient. Sister Cyril Mooney (google her name and read about her b/c I won't do any justice in a short blog), is just one more of the extremely inspiring woman who I've met on this trip who shows that we can always do more to educate children - rich or poor.
In our first day, we were given a tour and introduced to members of the staff. Today, everyone branched out and followed their own interests - kindergarten classes, science classes, environmental issues, child labor and human rights issues, music and dance, etc. Since I'm in the midst of completing this ed. admin. program, and lightly considering the idea of becoming a principal, Sister Cyril gave me some time and shared her insights about the world of education and human resource management. I took a lot of notes b/c she was clearly a model of excellence in terms of organization, understanding, execution, and I really liked her overall educational philosophy. I plan to share more about what I learned, but since I'm dying of heat in this little "cybercafe", and it's getting late, I'll sign off for now.
Tomorrow, we're all heading out to some villages, where the students of Loreto visit on a regular basis to provide education and friendship with the many underpriveleged (sp?) children. I'm sure that someone will write their thoughts about our experience in the "village outreach program" tomorrow night, as long as we don't get trapped there by the monsoon rains.
Until then... g'night.
We've spent the last couple of days at the Loreto Day School, and once again, I'm super impressed by what I've seen. This place (see Gemma's blog) runs like a well oiled machine... certainly not a porsche or a lamborghini, but just as innovative, more powerful, and way more efficient. Sister Cyril Mooney (google her name and read about her b/c I won't do any justice in a short blog), is just one more of the extremely inspiring woman who I've met on this trip who shows that we can always do more to educate children - rich or poor.
In our first day, we were given a tour and introduced to members of the staff. Today, everyone branched out and followed their own interests - kindergarten classes, science classes, environmental issues, child labor and human rights issues, music and dance, etc. Since I'm in the midst of completing this ed. admin. program, and lightly considering the idea of becoming a principal, Sister Cyril gave me some time and shared her insights about the world of education and human resource management. I took a lot of notes b/c she was clearly a model of excellence in terms of organization, understanding, execution, and I really liked her overall educational philosophy. I plan to share more about what I learned, but since I'm dying of heat in this little "cybercafe", and it's getting late, I'll sign off for now.
Tomorrow, we're all heading out to some villages, where the students of Loreto visit on a regular basis to provide education and friendship with the many underpriveleged (sp?) children. I'm sure that someone will write their thoughts about our experience in the "village outreach program" tomorrow night, as long as we don't get trapped there by the monsoon rains.
Until then... g'night.
Monday, August 11, 2008
In the City of Joy - Kolkata
We are in Kolkata. There is lots to see and hear. Today we visited Loreto School and met with the wonderful staff there including Sr. Cyril. It is a girls school with over 1400 students, 700 fee paying and 700 free. The school also hosts a number of other programs including a home for street children of Kolkata and training for teachers.
We will return tomorrow to visit classes and speak with staff about all the great work they are doing. We have been sampling a number of restaurants but have not yet had the courage to try the street food. All around us are vendors making chapati, naan, samosas and many other Indian dishes served in banana leaves. There is lots of chai tea in huge metal pots served up in small clay pots. The street seems to belong to everyone and they do just about everything on the street. They cook, eat, talk, go to the toilet, hang washing, do dishes and sleep. The weather is very humid with rain showers on and off (it is monsoon season).
Gemma
We will return tomorrow to visit classes and speak with staff about all the great work they are doing. We have been sampling a number of restaurants but have not yet had the courage to try the street food. All around us are vendors making chapati, naan, samosas and many other Indian dishes served in banana leaves. There is lots of chai tea in huge metal pots served up in small clay pots. The street seems to belong to everyone and they do just about everything on the street. They cook, eat, talk, go to the toilet, hang washing, do dishes and sleep. The weather is very humid with rain showers on and off (it is monsoon season).
Gemma
Chillin Like Ice Cream Fillin ;)
Well hi there! So we meet again.
We arrived in Kolkata like yesterday and there's already LOTS to say. We took the overnight train and boy let me tell you, if you ever want to know what it feels like sleeping in a jail cell-take the Darjeeling Mail. I had the great fortune (allow pause to take in sarcastic remark) of sleeping in the middle bunk of a three tiered sleeper cart. I had to climb up in there while having the luxury of being rocked to sleep. All in all it was an experience of a lifetime, and once will be suffecient for me thanks. But hey! When in India why not? It was an interesting experience!
Soemthing like 13 hours later-- we arrived at Hotel Housez 43! This place is really cute! Some people have purple walls. Awesome. I'm excited to be here AND learned some things that I hadn't thought about before:
1) I REALLY don't like dogs. Thought I did, but I don't. Nope. They're not for me. Never again.
2) I am a VERY big chicken. I find it kinf amusing when I internally freak out when I think I may have made eye contact with a dog that may or may not have been looking at me in the first place.
3) The only way, I think, to successfully fit in with the locals---is to walk down the street as if you're doing your fiercest strut on the runway. Look straight ahead and walk like nobody's ever walked before!
4) When you think you're walking on the wrong side of the road, you're actually right--which is left. I'm finally used to the whole wrong side of the road think. Still am not digging the honknig. Especially here, Kolkatians, I feel, are much more likely to run over feet without noticing.
Everything is amazing here. Very dirty streets though. Perhaps flip flops are inappropriate. Oh well. You win some and learn some.
That's all for now so until next time
Toodles!! :)
Sarah Fouad
We arrived in Kolkata like yesterday and there's already LOTS to say. We took the overnight train and boy let me tell you, if you ever want to know what it feels like sleeping in a jail cell-take the Darjeeling Mail. I had the great fortune (allow pause to take in sarcastic remark) of sleeping in the middle bunk of a three tiered sleeper cart. I had to climb up in there while having the luxury of being rocked to sleep. All in all it was an experience of a lifetime, and once will be suffecient for me thanks. But hey! When in India why not? It was an interesting experience!
Soemthing like 13 hours later-- we arrived at Hotel Housez 43! This place is really cute! Some people have purple walls. Awesome. I'm excited to be here AND learned some things that I hadn't thought about before:
1) I REALLY don't like dogs. Thought I did, but I don't. Nope. They're not for me. Never again.
2) I am a VERY big chicken. I find it kinf amusing when I internally freak out when I think I may have made eye contact with a dog that may or may not have been looking at me in the first place.
3) The only way, I think, to successfully fit in with the locals---is to walk down the street as if you're doing your fiercest strut on the runway. Look straight ahead and walk like nobody's ever walked before!
4) When you think you're walking on the wrong side of the road, you're actually right--which is left. I'm finally used to the whole wrong side of the road think. Still am not digging the honknig. Especially here, Kolkatians, I feel, are much more likely to run over feet without noticing.
Everything is amazing here. Very dirty streets though. Perhaps flip flops are inappropriate. Oh well. You win some and learn some.
That's all for now so until next time
Toodles!! :)
Sarah Fouad
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Kolkata
Hello again.
We arrived in Kolkata this morning after a long 24 hr road trip on jeep and train. We left the fresh, cool climate of Darjeeling yesterday morning and rode down the mountainside (with a couple of stops along the way) into the hot, humid plains of Siliguri. There we made a brief visit to the Jesu Ashram and then we caught the overnight train to Kolkata.
Our stops along the way were pretty interesting to say the least.
The first stop was at St. Alphonsus school, which was started by Father Abraham (a Jesuit priest since 23), who is now 83 years old and living in the mountains just above the school. We toured the building and then visited the father in his home where he told us a number of stories. He talked about the invasion and retreat of China in the days of early independance and how it impacted the landscape. He told us about how he raised the money from Canadian donors by asking them to give up dessert every Friday ($2/dessert) for a period of time, and then how the cost of concrete shot up and forced him to continue searching for donations and coming up with innovative ways to get the job done... having the students excavate the land and build the school with their own hands. It was wild listening to the story of patience, perserverance, and determination. I'll try to remember this the next time I get stuck in traffic!
The second stop included a tour of an organic tea factory, Makabrai (sp?). We saw how the tea was produced (old equipment and simple process), met the owner (quirky but super interesting dude), and then of course... bought some tea.
The third stop was at the Jesu Ashram, which is a hospice designed to care for sick and dying people who have nowhere to go and no one to care for them. These are adults (and children) with HIV, TB, leprosy, and other degenerative diseases, who are either dumped on their doorstep, picked up off the streets or floors of the train station, or even some who travel miles on their own to receive treatment or care in their final days of life. We listened to how the building was established (by Father Bob, another priest from the Jesuit order who has since passed away), walked through the rooms and halls to meet the patients, and spoke with the other Jesuits who run the facility. This was the most challenging part of the trip so far... seriously, what an inner struggle.
Finally, we caught the overnight train to Kolkata, which is where we'll be spending our final week. This is where Sister Cyril Mooney has established the Loreto Day School. I look forward to sharing more later.
Bye for now.
We arrived in Kolkata this morning after a long 24 hr road trip on jeep and train. We left the fresh, cool climate of Darjeeling yesterday morning and rode down the mountainside (with a couple of stops along the way) into the hot, humid plains of Siliguri. There we made a brief visit to the Jesu Ashram and then we caught the overnight train to Kolkata.
Our stops along the way were pretty interesting to say the least.
The first stop was at St. Alphonsus school, which was started by Father Abraham (a Jesuit priest since 23), who is now 83 years old and living in the mountains just above the school. We toured the building and then visited the father in his home where he told us a number of stories. He talked about the invasion and retreat of China in the days of early independance and how it impacted the landscape. He told us about how he raised the money from Canadian donors by asking them to give up dessert every Friday ($2/dessert) for a period of time, and then how the cost of concrete shot up and forced him to continue searching for donations and coming up with innovative ways to get the job done... having the students excavate the land and build the school with their own hands. It was wild listening to the story of patience, perserverance, and determination. I'll try to remember this the next time I get stuck in traffic!
The second stop included a tour of an organic tea factory, Makabrai (sp?). We saw how the tea was produced (old equipment and simple process), met the owner (quirky but super interesting dude), and then of course... bought some tea.
The third stop was at the Jesu Ashram, which is a hospice designed to care for sick and dying people who have nowhere to go and no one to care for them. These are adults (and children) with HIV, TB, leprosy, and other degenerative diseases, who are either dumped on their doorstep, picked up off the streets or floors of the train station, or even some who travel miles on their own to receive treatment or care in their final days of life. We listened to how the building was established (by Father Bob, another priest from the Jesuit order who has since passed away), walked through the rooms and halls to meet the patients, and spoke with the other Jesuits who run the facility. This was the most challenging part of the trip so far... seriously, what an inner struggle.
Finally, we caught the overnight train to Kolkata, which is where we'll be spending our final week. This is where Sister Cyril Mooney has established the Loreto Day School. I look forward to sharing more later.
Bye for now.
Friday, August 8, 2008
India is amazing
India is certainly a photographers dream. There is so much to see all around you. The sights and sounds overwhelm the senses. Colour is abundant. Both animal and human exist together in a harmonious chaos. There is an amazing mixture of old and modern India all around. We have been fortunate to speak with a number of interesting people and learn about the education system and the culture of the people.
Darjeeling has been a nice break from the heat. We are returning to the plains tomorrow and the heat of Calcutta. On the way down the mountain we will take in a tea garden and visit a school. We have had many wonderful adventures so far with lots of stories to tell.
Gemma
Darjeeling has been a nice break from the heat. We are returning to the plains tomorrow and the heat of Calcutta. On the way down the mountain we will take in a tea garden and visit a school. We have had many wonderful adventures so far with lots of stories to tell.
Gemma
Holy Moly!! Like Actually!
Sup Everyone!?? Or should I say Namaste??
I'm sitting here in a Darjeeling cafe and I couldn't help but wonder..is there anyone having a better time than me right now?? Probs not!! I mean it took 2ish hours to get up here in the hills, and this strong feeling of attachment came to me. In the last post, I said I was hoping that I would be a able to just chill here, and dude have my prayers beeng answered---aside from a persistant yucky bug situation...The mountains are ridic and on the way up we saw a waterfall like ever 5 minutes! I can't believe I'm here, and this feeling of disbelief heightened as I sat from my balcony watching the locals passs by smiling and waving. Everyone seem so hospitable and happy! I LOVE IT!!!!! I don't think I'm stressing this enough. One more time. IIIIIII LLLOOOVVVVEEEE ITTTTT! That may have done me justice. Perhaps.
My time's running out so I'll post something larger a bit later
But until then
Toodles!!
Sarah Fouad
I'm sitting here in a Darjeeling cafe and I couldn't help but wonder..is there anyone having a better time than me right now?? Probs not!! I mean it took 2ish hours to get up here in the hills, and this strong feeling of attachment came to me. In the last post, I said I was hoping that I would be a able to just chill here, and dude have my prayers beeng answered---aside from a persistant yucky bug situation...The mountains are ridic and on the way up we saw a waterfall like ever 5 minutes! I can't believe I'm here, and this feeling of disbelief heightened as I sat from my balcony watching the locals passs by smiling and waving. Everyone seem so hospitable and happy! I LOVE IT!!!!! I don't think I'm stressing this enough. One more time. IIIIIII LLLOOOVVVVEEEE ITTTTT! That may have done me justice. Perhaps.
My time's running out so I'll post something larger a bit later
But until then
Toodles!!
Sarah Fouad
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
up in the mountains
So we left Delhi and flew to Bagdogra, where we took a long winding jeep ride into the Himalayas to Darjeeling, where we've spent our last few days. It's the most amazing place I've ever seen. The air is clean, unless walking behind a diesel fueled vehicle. The people are super friendly and we're all having a great time. We've got two more days of visiting schools and taking in the sights and sounds, then we're off on a train to Kolkata for the final week. Not really anticipating the hot hot heat of the lowlands, but definitely looking forward to seeing the Loreto Day School. All is well, but gotta get off the computer and buy some incense. See y'all soon.
Jeff.
Jeff.
Monday, August 4, 2008
In the Hills
After several hundred hair pin turns weaving into the mountains be have arrived at Darjeeling. The pace and people are much different here than in Delhi. The temperature is also about 15 degrees cooler as well, we are enjoying a breath of fresh air (when not being passed by traffic). We have finally had the chance to visit some classes. Today at Hayden Hall we met three classes with children that attend to get help with their homework for three hours after their school day has ended.
We have a lot to learn from these people, I am looking forward to hearing more of their stories.
We have a lot to learn from these people, I am looking forward to hearing more of their stories.
Friday, August 1, 2008
WeEk OnE InDiA
Hello to all!
Well you can see by my title that India is up and down... after one week, there have been experiences of wonder and complacency... of awe and lethargy... of serious reflection and fun loving anticipation. Overall what you hear of India is probably true - just times it by a thousand and factor in the juxtapositions at every level: There are cows on the street, but also where we think they belong in agrarian pastures; people live in tent laden scanty shanties; but there are Toronto-like glass monstrosities.
While there is thousands of dollars worth of marble lying about in rubble piles - surrounded by camel, elephant, and buffalo dung - there is poverty surrounding the historic beauty. But how do we judge a nation based on its people's bank accounts (if indeed they own an account)? The India
that I have seen is full of this duality: bargains to be had, and guilt for walking past the polio victim walking on his knees in the filthy streets; History that is engrossing, and yet overwhelming - in terms of the exploitation and violence of the man and beast that built these spectacular structures (forts, mausoleums, tombs - take the Taj Mahal for instance).
I need time to synthesize this country - communication is generally English, but the people have a poetic vibe attached to their other languages and religions. I embrace the diversity, but not the complacency; I love the food, but not the associated illness that my travel mates seem to be suffering; I love the freedom of see the timelessness of the structures, but not the 'structurelessness' of timing.
It is time to go now, my Kingfisher beer calls out to me, as well as sleep - although that is a non-necessity in these exciting times. I'll be in touch next week. Wishing you well in Canada - We are well in India!
William
another 4 pager from roley!!!
WOOOOOOWWWW. These past days have been crazy!!!!! k let me start.
Remember when i said i was going to the hindu disneyland?? well.... it didn't happen... or rather i couldn't go because i go super sick =/. chills, headaches, the constant need to go to the washroom; horrible!! My stomach hurt soooo much it was ridiculous. I’d get dizzy turning my head to the side. Sometimes, the only way I’d sleep at night was through thinking bc if I didn’t my head would throb… ughhhh I felt sooo vulnerable and completely not myself. What was worse was everyone else was going; this was our first official group tour… ughhhh.. I really think the combination of spices, the new smells, and the malaria pills brought this on me. What’s kind of scary are the side of the malaria pills which not only included nausea and diarehha but… nightmares. There was this one time where I’d see scary images right when I closed my eyes… although there was this one where I could fly everywhere asthough I had no clip XD (for the gamers out there =P). Regardless of all this, I managed to pull through!! Now I’m super conserverative in what I eat (sorry chan I don’t think I’ll be trying thali and time soon =P).
K, well, the next day, 28 july 2008, I was probably around 60% and went out! I wasn’t going to miss anymore! The first place we went was the “Red fort”. Holy crap, this place, built by Mughal emperors, is MASSIVE!!! From here we took a bike rickshaw, or basically a pedal bike with a carriage. Crap, that DEFINITELY was not good for my stomach!! After navigating the streets, and holding in my toast breakfast, we reached the Friday Masjid (or Friday mosque). Dang man, these places are soooo nice! Although climbing the massive staircase to get to the top was a challenge in itself. In the center of this massive place the size of, hmmmmm, 6-8 times the size of the portage and main intersection, was a little pool where people could awsh their feet (because in order to walk around, ones’ shoes must be removed). Imagine walking in such an area with barefeet and hot red rock roasting your feet… yeah, it was interesting =P. When I walked inside the various buildings, however, the white marble cooled my feet and captured my eyes as I saw Islamic carving. SOO BEAUTIFUL! The intricacy is overwhelming. There was also a minaret or tower used to call people for prayer; people could climb but in my condition, all I’d be yelling was my breakfast lol.
Next we travelled to the Gandhi memorial. This place is soo calming, tranquil, and serene. Ashoka and Banyan trees surrounded the black, square, and monument in the centre dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. What’s interesting was how simply it was designed with a golden inscription reading “Oh God,” the words Gandhi said when he got shot. Amazing man indeed. The simplicity of his tomb is soooo beautiful, especially after seeing such ornate designed buildings in the Jama Masjid; it definitely reflects the type of man he was.
After this we took our van to the temple of Humayun, the 2nd Mughal emperor after Babur. This tomb is crazy!! Again very intricate designs an can be compared to nothing in winnipeg. It puts our our own legislature in the dust! Again, these mughal emperors are ridiculous! Can you say, “BALLLLAAAAHHHH!!!” XD
At this point, we went for lunch… and I went back cuz I could no longer handle the pain XD.
On 29 july 2008, I felt soooooo much better! I’m talking 78%!! Woot woot!!! Anyways, we left Delhi and continued our journey around the Golden triangle, destination = Agra, home of the The Taj Mahal! But before we went there, we went to the tomb of the third mughal emperor, Akbar the Great. Now this dude was something else. All the rulers before him were strict muslim ruler but this guy was different in that he brought religious tolerance to his kingdom! He even sought to unify every by talking aspects from Hinduism, islam, and Christianity and forming a new religion!! What a guy! Anyways, like thee previous tombs, this place was huge, wide, very green and had little paths that water could flow around… on the left I could see gazelles on the right was a monkey temple with a tree path… ughhhhh the innate beauty here is amazing! I can’t help but feel at peace. His tomb and gates were all designed with influences from all religions which were fused together form this architechtural wonder.
From here we went to Howard hotel… holy crap…. Can you say luxury?!?! One of the nicest places ever!!! There was a freaking pool with a waterfall!! Damn man, that sick! After we dropped off bags and had lunch (mmmmm), we travelled to agra’s red fort made by akbar. Dang man! This is like a castle, muslim style!!! Surrounding this fort was a wall then a moat, which WAS filled with lions (like damn, freaking lions)! If intruders passed this, they then had to face a moat filled will alligators/ crocodiles!! Next was the first gate. If they go this, the soldiers would retreat to the 2nd gate where they’d relaease boiling hot oil on their enemies! If they managed to get passed this, there was the third gate… that lead to a narrow path way where the bolders were released!!!! That’s like India jones but real!! Once you got passed all the defenses, you’d see such powerful buildings. For such military fort, one will say that this was a niiiice looking military fort! On the top floor were various palaces that the emperors were staying in. It was here that I could see the Taj mahal. What’s sad is that the creator of the taj mahal, 5th mughal emporor Shah Jahan, was under house arrest here. It is said that when the Britished lauched canon balls, one hit the throne used by Auragzeb (the son who arrested his father), broke it half and ricrochette, hitting but not breaking one of the palace arches. As we wandered around, we saw one of the forts old, algae filled water reserves… what’s crazy is that this one guy jumped 20+ m in it O_O. just around the corner was the view of a memorial of akbar had for his pet elephant… that he used to crush his enemies literally!!! Crazy place!!!!
After this, we went to the Taj Mahal!! This place is the ultimate sign of love and definitely raises the bar of us guys XD. Hahaha. Seriously, before Shah Jahan’s wife from his love “marriage”, mumtaz mahal, died giving birth from her 14th child, she asked him to erect a monument to show just how much he loved her… well… crap man, loook!!! It took him 22 years an almost bankrupted the empire doing it!! Hehehe, he fricken screwed us guys over eh?? XD. Still, when you see the prisitine, pure white marble with its perfect symmetry and almost ethereal feel, I couldn’t help but be amazed. The inlaying of precious and semi precious jewels is also amazing!!! It is said that the Taj mahal was started by giants and finished by jewellers. The deisgns were soooo beautiful that it is believed Shah jahan had the hands, fingers anwrists of his crazfts men cut off so that such feat of fine workmanship, sooo beautifully done, will never be replicated. HOLY SMOKES!!! Inside was this monument was coffin of his wife. Originally, it was intended only for her. She was the centre of this almost divine symmetry but when sha jahan died, he too was placed inside the taj mahal. In Muslim burial tradition, the body is place with the head in the north facing west towards mecca. Instead, Shah Jahan is place to her left this way she not only faced mecca, but also her loving husband. *cue awwwwww*
We then went back to the hotel… where I got a massage for my sore back… ohhh man, I love this hotel =).
The next day began with an early morning swim (heheheh). we Then went to Fatehpur Sikri (sp). Again this a was where Akbar lived and ruled for a bit. We saw the place where he talked with court officials and tried to form his new religion. It was here that he would have people of different religions (including the JESUITS!) debate between themselse as akbar listen in the centre of this square room. Other places in this city were the places for his 3 wifes, the rooms where his 800+ concubines lived (what a guy lol), and where he’d play games like :hide and seek” with the concubines or a place he’d play with his buddies that including using women, who they’d instruct to move/dance from place to place on a 6x4 grid with the prize being any woman the winner wanted…. Wowwwwww. What’s very interesting are the buildings made just for women; he ensured each wife was in a different part of this city so thet wouldn’t fight!! Its even said that one of his wifes bathed in rose water so that he can control her husband from the other women!!
Anyways, this is all for now, sooo many more things happened but I’m tired… I think I’m going to order some western style food now XD. miss you all!!!!
-roley
Remember when i said i was going to the hindu disneyland?? well.... it didn't happen... or rather i couldn't go because i go super sick =/. chills, headaches, the constant need to go to the washroom; horrible!! My stomach hurt soooo much it was ridiculous. I’d get dizzy turning my head to the side. Sometimes, the only way I’d sleep at night was through thinking bc if I didn’t my head would throb… ughhhh I felt sooo vulnerable and completely not myself. What was worse was everyone else was going; this was our first official group tour… ughhhh.. I really think the combination of spices, the new smells, and the malaria pills brought this on me. What’s kind of scary are the side of the malaria pills which not only included nausea and diarehha but… nightmares. There was this one time where I’d see scary images right when I closed my eyes… although there was this one where I could fly everywhere asthough I had no clip XD (for the gamers out there =P). Regardless of all this, I managed to pull through!! Now I’m super conserverative in what I eat (sorry chan I don’t think I’ll be trying thali and time soon =P).
K, well, the next day, 28 july 2008, I was probably around 60% and went out! I wasn’t going to miss anymore! The first place we went was the “Red fort”. Holy crap, this place, built by Mughal emperors, is MASSIVE!!! From here we took a bike rickshaw, or basically a pedal bike with a carriage. Crap, that DEFINITELY was not good for my stomach!! After navigating the streets, and holding in my toast breakfast, we reached the Friday Masjid (or Friday mosque). Dang man, these places are soooo nice! Although climbing the massive staircase to get to the top was a challenge in itself. In the center of this massive place the size of, hmmmmm, 6-8 times the size of the portage and main intersection, was a little pool where people could awsh their feet (because in order to walk around, ones’ shoes must be removed). Imagine walking in such an area with barefeet and hot red rock roasting your feet… yeah, it was interesting =P. When I walked inside the various buildings, however, the white marble cooled my feet and captured my eyes as I saw Islamic carving. SOO BEAUTIFUL! The intricacy is overwhelming. There was also a minaret or tower used to call people for prayer; people could climb but in my condition, all I’d be yelling was my breakfast lol.
Next we travelled to the Gandhi memorial. This place is soo calming, tranquil, and serene. Ashoka and Banyan trees surrounded the black, square, and monument in the centre dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. What’s interesting was how simply it was designed with a golden inscription reading “Oh God,” the words Gandhi said when he got shot. Amazing man indeed. The simplicity of his tomb is soooo beautiful, especially after seeing such ornate designed buildings in the Jama Masjid; it definitely reflects the type of man he was.
After this we took our van to the temple of Humayun, the 2nd Mughal emperor after Babur. This tomb is crazy!! Again very intricate designs an can be compared to nothing in winnipeg. It puts our our own legislature in the dust! Again, these mughal emperors are ridiculous! Can you say, “BALLLLAAAAHHHH!!!” XD
At this point, we went for lunch… and I went back cuz I could no longer handle the pain XD.
On 29 july 2008, I felt soooooo much better! I’m talking 78%!! Woot woot!!! Anyways, we left Delhi and continued our journey around the Golden triangle, destination = Agra, home of the The Taj Mahal! But before we went there, we went to the tomb of the third mughal emperor, Akbar the Great. Now this dude was something else. All the rulers before him were strict muslim ruler but this guy was different in that he brought religious tolerance to his kingdom! He even sought to unify every by talking aspects from Hinduism, islam, and Christianity and forming a new religion!! What a guy! Anyways, like thee previous tombs, this place was huge, wide, very green and had little paths that water could flow around… on the left I could see gazelles on the right was a monkey temple with a tree path… ughhhhh the innate beauty here is amazing! I can’t help but feel at peace. His tomb and gates were all designed with influences from all religions which were fused together form this architechtural wonder.
From here we went to Howard hotel… holy crap…. Can you say luxury?!?! One of the nicest places ever!!! There was a freaking pool with a waterfall!! Damn man, that sick! After we dropped off bags and had lunch (mmmmm), we travelled to agra’s red fort made by akbar. Dang man! This is like a castle, muslim style!!! Surrounding this fort was a wall then a moat, which WAS filled with lions (like damn, freaking lions)! If intruders passed this, they then had to face a moat filled will alligators/ crocodiles!! Next was the first gate. If they go this, the soldiers would retreat to the 2nd gate where they’d relaease boiling hot oil on their enemies! If they managed to get passed this, there was the third gate… that lead to a narrow path way where the bolders were released!!!! That’s like India jones but real!! Once you got passed all the defenses, you’d see such powerful buildings. For such military fort, one will say that this was a niiiice looking military fort! On the top floor were various palaces that the emperors were staying in. It was here that I could see the Taj mahal. What’s sad is that the creator of the taj mahal, 5th mughal emporor Shah Jahan, was under house arrest here. It is said that when the Britished lauched canon balls, one hit the throne used by Auragzeb (the son who arrested his father), broke it half and ricrochette, hitting but not breaking one of the palace arches. As we wandered around, we saw one of the forts old, algae filled water reserves… what’s crazy is that this one guy jumped 20+ m in it O_O. just around the corner was the view of a memorial of akbar had for his pet elephant… that he used to crush his enemies literally!!! Crazy place!!!!
After this, we went to the Taj Mahal!! This place is the ultimate sign of love and definitely raises the bar of us guys XD. Hahaha. Seriously, before Shah Jahan’s wife from his love “marriage”, mumtaz mahal, died giving birth from her 14th child, she asked him to erect a monument to show just how much he loved her… well… crap man, loook!!! It took him 22 years an almost bankrupted the empire doing it!! Hehehe, he fricken screwed us guys over eh?? XD. Still, when you see the prisitine, pure white marble with its perfect symmetry and almost ethereal feel, I couldn’t help but be amazed. The inlaying of precious and semi precious jewels is also amazing!!! It is said that the Taj mahal was started by giants and finished by jewellers. The deisgns were soooo beautiful that it is believed Shah jahan had the hands, fingers anwrists of his crazfts men cut off so that such feat of fine workmanship, sooo beautifully done, will never be replicated. HOLY SMOKES!!! Inside was this monument was coffin of his wife. Originally, it was intended only for her. She was the centre of this almost divine symmetry but when sha jahan died, he too was placed inside the taj mahal. In Muslim burial tradition, the body is place with the head in the north facing west towards mecca. Instead, Shah Jahan is place to her left this way she not only faced mecca, but also her loving husband. *cue awwwwww*
We then went back to the hotel… where I got a massage for my sore back… ohhh man, I love this hotel =).
The next day began with an early morning swim (heheheh). we Then went to Fatehpur Sikri (sp). Again this a was where Akbar lived and ruled for a bit. We saw the place where he talked with court officials and tried to form his new religion. It was here that he would have people of different religions (including the JESUITS!) debate between themselse as akbar listen in the centre of this square room. Other places in this city were the places for his 3 wifes, the rooms where his 800+ concubines lived (what a guy lol), and where he’d play games like :hide and seek” with the concubines or a place he’d play with his buddies that including using women, who they’d instruct to move/dance from place to place on a 6x4 grid with the prize being any woman the winner wanted…. Wowwwwww. What’s very interesting are the buildings made just for women; he ensured each wife was in a different part of this city so thet wouldn’t fight!! Its even said that one of his wifes bathed in rose water so that he can control her husband from the other women!!
Anyways, this is all for now, sooo many more things happened but I’m tired… I think I’m going to order some western style food now XD. miss you all!!!!
-roley
My First Blog... :) Snap!!
Hello Everybody!
It's been officially a week since I've left Winnipeg, and has it ever been crazy! Back in Winnipeg I actually liked going to saunas, but India gives the word sauna a whole new meaning. First couple of days were okay, I can't remember the last time I woke up before noon, but it seems jetlag got rid of that problem rather fast.. ... . I can't say I'm used to the weather yet, but I am finally adjusted to the time change.
Man have we ever done alot of stuff so far. Seeing Ghandi's Memorial, the small city of Fatehpur Sikri home to Akbar the Great and his 3 wives and 850 concubines, the Taj (I feel that by calling it "the Taj" it sounds more swanky). This morning we rode up to the Amber Fort on Elephants and that was absoulutly ridicoulous!!! Man, it was fun and all but I was actually like praying for my life! It was pretty scary but awesome at the same time! I've gotten used to all the hasseling of what seems to be "good deals" that sellers are shoving in our faces, but nonetheless I'm hoping Darjeeling will be a little bit less tourist-y so I can just chill.
So far everything has been crazily busy and go go go, time is passing by and alot of culture has been taken in. Even though it has only been a week, I can say that this trip would not have been the same without the group of amazing people I'm with...it makes for a more ..interesting.. time! But I feel very blessed and look forward to flying tomorrow morning!!
Until then,
TOODLES!!
Sarah Fouad
It's been officially a week since I've left Winnipeg, and has it ever been crazy! Back in Winnipeg I actually liked going to saunas, but India gives the word sauna a whole new meaning. First couple of days were okay, I can't remember the last time I woke up before noon, but it seems jetlag got rid of that problem rather fast.. ... . I can't say I'm used to the weather yet, but I am finally adjusted to the time change.
Man have we ever done alot of stuff so far. Seeing Ghandi's Memorial, the small city of Fatehpur Sikri home to Akbar the Great and his 3 wives and 850 concubines, the Taj (I feel that by calling it "the Taj" it sounds more swanky). This morning we rode up to the Amber Fort on Elephants and that was absoulutly ridicoulous!!! Man, it was fun and all but I was actually like praying for my life! It was pretty scary but awesome at the same time! I've gotten used to all the hasseling of what seems to be "good deals" that sellers are shoving in our faces, but nonetheless I'm hoping Darjeeling will be a little bit less tourist-y so I can just chill.
So far everything has been crazily busy and go go go, time is passing by and alot of culture has been taken in. Even though it has only been a week, I can say that this trip would not have been the same without the group of amazing people I'm with...it makes for a more ..interesting.. time! But I feel very blessed and look forward to flying tomorrow morning!!
Until then,
TOODLES!!
Sarah Fouad
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Carrie Remembers her password!
Greetings Friends and Family!
India is more than I thought it would be! Sights, smells, colours, sounds...are extraordinary and breathtaking (sometimes literally!). I've taken over 500 digital photos so far to try and capture what we've been experiencing. I must admit we've been very busy on this tour so far. Father Creamer has booked various historical tours on a daily basis which have been mesmorizing and drenched in rich history and exquisite beauty. We've touched tombstones of great leaders, visited palaces and forts. These structures ooze with stories and delicate beauty. There is so much to share but the sand in my timer is running thin as we have to pay for a wireless internet connection wherever we stay and since there are 13 of us and one laptop it's been difficult to find time to write!! The weather is incredible - humidity is totally insane but I absolutely LOVE it! In some ways being here feels like 'home'...it's like I've walked these streets before and smelled these smells. The food and sounds, the energy of the street and the graciousness of the people is all that I imagined it would be and more.
The places we have been so far are Delhi, Agra (went to the Taj Mahal - magnificent!) and now I write to you from Jaipur. We leave for Delhi tomorrow and then fly to Darjeeling. I hope to find some prayer beads there!
Zach - haven't found any basketball gear yet!
Josh - still looking for comics for you!
Andrew - I saw some totally gross pickled animals in a museum today and thought of you!! They were all floating in liquid in jars.
I think of you DAILY and miss you much! I show your picture wherever I go and tell everyone how proud I am of you!
LOVE YOU and MISS YOU!
be safe and well and I hope to call you soon!
Namaste!
Mom/Carrie
India is more than I thought it would be! Sights, smells, colours, sounds...are extraordinary and breathtaking (sometimes literally!). I've taken over 500 digital photos so far to try and capture what we've been experiencing. I must admit we've been very busy on this tour so far. Father Creamer has booked various historical tours on a daily basis which have been mesmorizing and drenched in rich history and exquisite beauty. We've touched tombstones of great leaders, visited palaces and forts. These structures ooze with stories and delicate beauty. There is so much to share but the sand in my timer is running thin as we have to pay for a wireless internet connection wherever we stay and since there are 13 of us and one laptop it's been difficult to find time to write!! The weather is incredible - humidity is totally insane but I absolutely LOVE it! In some ways being here feels like 'home'...it's like I've walked these streets before and smelled these smells. The food and sounds, the energy of the street and the graciousness of the people is all that I imagined it would be and more.
The places we have been so far are Delhi, Agra (went to the Taj Mahal - magnificent!) and now I write to you from Jaipur. We leave for Delhi tomorrow and then fly to Darjeeling. I hope to find some prayer beads there!
Zach - haven't found any basketball gear yet!
Josh - still looking for comics for you!
Andrew - I saw some totally gross pickled animals in a museum today and thought of you!! They were all floating in liquid in jars.
I think of you DAILY and miss you much! I show your picture wherever I go and tell everyone how proud I am of you!
LOVE YOU and MISS YOU!
be safe and well and I hope to call you soon!
Namaste!
Mom/Carrie
words from jeff n roley
Hello again.
On the road to Jaipur we first stopped at Fatepur Sikri (sp?) which is the city Akbar created to merge the religions of the world. A walled in compound that needs to be seen to be fully appreciated... let's just say it would be the greatest place ever for a game of hide n seek or for the more mature of the group - paintball, Roley says Yeahhhhhhh!!! The rest of the day was all about the drive and the sights on the road. I got to drive!!!!!!!! Roley says, crazzzzzzzy! This woke up the entire crew... with fear. Jaipur is known as the pink city, filled with mountains and marble. As a group we went to a textile shop. We all picked up some fine threads. Roley says yeahhhhh again! The night was long, the sleep was short, and we were back on the road again - a la willie nelson. We visited the Mayo College - the Eton of India. A prestigious school for grades 4-12. Reminded me of The Dead Poets Society except older and made of marble. The rain poured briefly, and the heat was still intense - I had to change my shirt and stand in front of a fan for relief. This afternoon we're heading to the market - TELL ME IF YOU WANT ME TO BUY YOU ANYTHING, SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE. We'll be back on the road again for an even longer drive to Delhi, as we complete the final phase of the golden triangle. I'll be sure to make note of all the roadside attractions - there are sooooooo many, and maybe even come up with another poem.
The remainder of the trip will be spent in Darjeeling and Kolkata. I can't wait to see the Loreto Day School. Roley can't wait to bust out his moves and have some fun dancing with the kids.
Bye for now.
On the road to Jaipur we first stopped at Fatepur Sikri (sp?) which is the city Akbar created to merge the religions of the world. A walled in compound that needs to be seen to be fully appreciated... let's just say it would be the greatest place ever for a game of hide n seek or for the more mature of the group - paintball, Roley says Yeahhhhhhh!!! The rest of the day was all about the drive and the sights on the road. I got to drive!!!!!!!! Roley says, crazzzzzzzy! This woke up the entire crew... with fear. Jaipur is known as the pink city, filled with mountains and marble. As a group we went to a textile shop. We all picked up some fine threads. Roley says yeahhhhh again! The night was long, the sleep was short, and we were back on the road again - a la willie nelson. We visited the Mayo College - the Eton of India. A prestigious school for grades 4-12. Reminded me of The Dead Poets Society except older and made of marble. The rain poured briefly, and the heat was still intense - I had to change my shirt and stand in front of a fan for relief. This afternoon we're heading to the market - TELL ME IF YOU WANT ME TO BUY YOU ANYTHING, SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE. We'll be back on the road again for an even longer drive to Delhi, as we complete the final phase of the golden triangle. I'll be sure to make note of all the roadside attractions - there are sooooooo many, and maybe even come up with another poem.
The remainder of the trip will be spent in Darjeeling and Kolkata. I can't wait to see the Loreto Day School. Roley can't wait to bust out his moves and have some fun dancing with the kids.
Bye for now.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Hey Family and Friends.
The ride to Agra through the countryside was amazing! I failed to close my eyes on the five hour ride, with the exception of some awkward, head bobbing, throat singing, sleep that gave me a short five-minute reprieve. We are seeing so much and soaking it all in with long breathes of awe. Next stop Jaipur...
I think the heat has broken up my thoughts into what may appear to be poetry :) Enjoy!
India is so full.
At first glance
The crowded streets
Appear to be
Only
Bikes and bodies
Carts and trucks
Dogs and debris
Camels and cows
Horns and brakes
Smog and smiles.
Women working VERY hard
Carrying
Bundles, bricks, babies, and
Men too
Talking, thinking,
Delegating, and deciding
Who will do what and
Which level of work.
Bodies, bodies, bodies, and so many more
Beautiful bodies,
But,
When listening to the heart
It is so much more.
Smells are rich
With
A human odour
So complex and
Impossible to separate,
The mixture of sounds that are in reality
Helpful horns
Voices calling and
Crying out
Drums beating
Birds singing.
The wind sighs
A long, deep breath of energy that
Stirs the soul and
Touches the heart.
India is so full and
So real that
One cannot deny the feelings that
Overwhelm the senses and
Force the mind to
Look deeper and
Search more for
A greater understanding.
The ride to Agra through the countryside was amazing! I failed to close my eyes on the five hour ride, with the exception of some awkward, head bobbing, throat singing, sleep that gave me a short five-minute reprieve. We are seeing so much and soaking it all in with long breathes of awe. Next stop Jaipur...
I think the heat has broken up my thoughts into what may appear to be poetry :) Enjoy!
India is so full.
At first glance
The crowded streets
Appear to be
Only
Bikes and bodies
Carts and trucks
Dogs and debris
Camels and cows
Horns and brakes
Smog and smiles.
Women working VERY hard
Carrying
Bundles, bricks, babies, and
Men too
Talking, thinking,
Delegating, and deciding
Who will do what and
Which level of work.
Bodies, bodies, bodies, and so many more
Beautiful bodies,
But,
When listening to the heart
It is so much more.
Smells are rich
With
A human odour
So complex and
Impossible to separate,
The mixture of sounds that are in reality
Helpful horns
Voices calling and
Crying out
Drums beating
Birds singing.
The wind sighs
A long, deep breath of energy that
Stirs the soul and
Touches the heart.
India is so full and
So real that
One cannot deny the feelings that
Overwhelm the senses and
Force the mind to
Look deeper and
Search more for
A greater understanding.
Monday, July 28, 2008
a post for CARRIE (who can't remember her password :)
Greetings Friends!
I am writing to you from Delhi – sitting on top of our hotel on a lovely rooftop patio, drinking Kingfisher beer with William and Jeff (a fellow student/traveller). Our flights were fantastic – smooth and uneventful. 3 students and ‘our’ guide met us at the Delhi airport. We arrived at the hotel at 3 am and finally fell asleep at 4!! Our first tour started at 2:00 on July 27th – Where have we been?...Gandhi’s memorial and place of assisination, moseleums of great moghul emperors, historical monuments built in memory of significant change-agents, brilliant mosques and sacred temples. The points of interests are all marked by the incredible chaos of Delhi life – people of all ages and status present on the street intermixed with the most dynamic and frightening traffic flow I’ve every witnessed (and I’ve been to Jamaica!). If the horn in your car doesn’t work or fails you in any way, you are essentially screwed!! My mind and heart and spirit continue to soar with gratitude at this most awesome experience. I wake expressing thankfulness to God for this pilgrimage of continued life and self-discovery. The sights and smells are breathtaking in beauty and density. The energy of life and living also invites me to walk slowly and gently with awareness and awe. Brilliant architecture and exquisite colour (saris of magnificent splendour) astound me! Agra awaits (we take off tomorrow – July 29th) where we will see the Taj Mahal and other Indian treasures!
Be well and safe in your days!
My love to you all,
Carrie
I am writing to you from Delhi – sitting on top of our hotel on a lovely rooftop patio, drinking Kingfisher beer with William and Jeff (a fellow student/traveller). Our flights were fantastic – smooth and uneventful. 3 students and ‘our’ guide met us at the Delhi airport. We arrived at the hotel at 3 am and finally fell asleep at 4!! Our first tour started at 2:00 on July 27th – Where have we been?...Gandhi’s memorial and place of assisination, moseleums of great moghul emperors, historical monuments built in memory of significant change-agents, brilliant mosques and sacred temples. The points of interests are all marked by the incredible chaos of Delhi life – people of all ages and status present on the street intermixed with the most dynamic and frightening traffic flow I’ve every witnessed (and I’ve been to Jamaica!). If the horn in your car doesn’t work or fails you in any way, you are essentially screwed!! My mind and heart and spirit continue to soar with gratitude at this most awesome experience. I wake expressing thankfulness to God for this pilgrimage of continued life and self-discovery. The sights and smells are breathtaking in beauty and density. The energy of life and living also invites me to walk slowly and gently with awareness and awe. Brilliant architecture and exquisite colour (saris of magnificent splendour) astound me! Agra awaits (we take off tomorrow – July 29th) where we will see the Taj Mahal and other Indian treasures!
Be well and safe in your days!
My love to you all,
Carrie
jeff's first blog ever
Wow! What an incredible experience, and it’s only been two days since arriving in Delhi. The flight was long, but well worth the trip.
Our group of Manitoba travellers is full of great personalities and I look forward to getting to know each of them over the next three weeks. It is clear that everyone is absorbing the culture, but in their own unique way. Some like to sit and quietly observe, while others like to jump around and are not afraid to share their enthusiasm with the rest of the world… both are a blessing. Some bodies are still adjusting to the food, time zone, heat and humidity, but hopefully with time, the healthy bodies will be restored and able to move at the anticipated pace. Unfortunately, this is a reality of traveling that cannot always be avoided. I can only hope and pray that I will not be knocked down myself, but if it happens, so be it. It is what is. I’ve always felt that you need to take chances to experience life.
I won’t go into detail right now of where we’ve been and what we've seen because there is simply too much to write in one sitting. Besides, there is a great educational link that provides a full description of the trip… Check it out.
http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/field_studies_india/index.php/Main_Page
Next stop, Agra and the very famous Taj Mahal. I’m looking forward to the five-hour bus ride through the countryside. My body could use a long snooze, but with the mind buzzing the way that it is, I don’t expect to sleep much on this trip. I guess I’ll catch up on my sleep in the peg.
Peace and love.
Jeff.
Our group of Manitoba travellers is full of great personalities and I look forward to getting to know each of them over the next three weeks. It is clear that everyone is absorbing the culture, but in their own unique way. Some like to sit and quietly observe, while others like to jump around and are not afraid to share their enthusiasm with the rest of the world… both are a blessing. Some bodies are still adjusting to the food, time zone, heat and humidity, but hopefully with time, the healthy bodies will be restored and able to move at the anticipated pace. Unfortunately, this is a reality of traveling that cannot always be avoided. I can only hope and pray that I will not be knocked down myself, but if it happens, so be it. It is what is. I’ve always felt that you need to take chances to experience life.
I won’t go into detail right now of where we’ve been and what we've seen because there is simply too much to write in one sitting. Besides, there is a great educational link that provides a full description of the trip… Check it out.
http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/field_studies_india/index.php/Main_Page
Next stop, Agra and the very famous Taj Mahal. I’m looking forward to the five-hour bus ride through the countryside. My body could use a long snooze, but with the mind buzzing the way that it is, I don’t expect to sleep much on this trip. I guess I’ll catch up on my sleep in the peg.
Peace and love.
Jeff.
July 28
Hot! Hot! Hot! A very long day. I wondered how we were going to see everything on the course list and now I know. By the last three stops we saw the scenery from the comfort of our cool vehicles. All beautiful and amazing. The day it all seemed like a blur, I’ll let pictures speak for us.
Sandra Krahn
What we saw in 40 C over 8 hours...
Old Delhi * the Jama Masjid (Universal Mosque)
* the Red Fort
* cycle rickshaws Chandni Chowk (Silver Street) and through the spice market, Gold/Silversmith market
* Emperor Humayun’s Tomb (16th century; model for later Mogul Monuments, including Taj Mahal)
Sandra Krahn
What we saw in 40 C over 8 hours...Old Delhi * the Jama Masjid (Universal Mosque)
* the Red Fort
* cycle rickshaws Chandni Chowk (Silver Street) and through the spice market, Gold/Silversmith market
* Emperor Humayun’s Tomb (16th century; model for later Mogul Monuments, including Taj Mahal) British Raj (Rule)
* Edwin Lutyen’s “New” city; symbol of British power and supremacy, India Gate (42 m high), Parliament House, Government Secretariats, and Presidential Palace (Rashtrapati)
* Edwin Lutyen’s “New” city; symbol of British power and supremacy, India Gate (42 m high), Parliament House, Government Secretariats, and Presidential Palace (Rashtrapati)
* Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial) on the bank of the Yamuna River; Gandhi Museum, Salt Protest Memorial* Qutab Minar (70 m victory tower of Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199); a UNESCO World Heritage Monument
Sunday, July 27, 2008
July 27
It rained which was nice because it cooled down considerably, even so I could feel sweat running down my back, but it wasn't unbearable. The tea is amazing! The food at the hotel is also very good, chicken curry with roti, wow.
We saw the Lotis temple yesterday, it was beautiful! We saw it lit up on the plane when we landed in Delhi. We also went to the Hindu "Disney land" and went on a 10 minute boat ride reminicent of "it's a small world", but was the history of India. They claimed to have discovered everyting from plastic surgery, to geometry, to space ships. The clothing that the women wear is so beatiful, the colors and the textures in the fabrics. India has a very rich culture.
Sandra Krahn
We saw the Lotis temple yesterday, it was beautiful! We saw it lit up on the plane when we landed in Delhi. We also went to the Hindu "Disney land" and went on a 10 minute boat ride reminicent of "it's a small world", but was the history of India. They claimed to have discovered everyting from plastic surgery, to geometry, to space ships. The clothing that the women wear is so beatiful, the colors and the textures in the fabrics. India has a very rich culture.
Sandra Krahn
Saturday, July 26, 2008
INDIA BLOG 1!!! From the eyes of Roley.
July 27, 2008
Hello everyone!!!
I finally have access to a computer after 3 days! Turns out the hotel did have computer; we just assumed it was out of service since it was all covered up and off -_-;;.
Anyways!! Things have gone well soo far on this trip!
Let me begin with the plane ride. To get here, I took a ride from Winnipeg to Toronto, then Belgium, the to delhi. In Toronto, didn’t see much… except that they charged like3 bucks for a bottle of diet pepsi (Father creamer, if you don’t know him already, Is a big fan of diet pepsi/coke =P). Nothing special really happened here except that we went around for a bit looking for a cibc bank which was near impossible to find). When we got back to the airport for our flight and boarded “jet air ways,” man was I in for a surprise! In econiomy, we had like people giving us free candy, all te movies we could watch (saw 21, vantage point, and this funny comedy from hong kong called “Playboy Cop” (don’t get any ideas!). When I got bored, or needed a break, the videogame system was available.. sweet!! The food was good too; except that being at the back of the plane left me with the left overs. But! I’m still a big fan of airplane food =). The flight attendedants were very courteous and always had as mile on my face…and the jazz music playing in the bg was awesome =). Oh an not to mention complementary alcoholic beverages… ;). My only concern were the seat, they weren’t really confortable… ughhhhh. Sleeping was sooo difficult!
When we got to Belgium, I was blown away by to things: the amount of people in line, and the ridiculous prices on the chocolates. I know Belgium chocolates is good BUT when a box can cost you 50+ euros (almost 100 dollars Canadian) I almost cried! Maybe I’d buy these chocolates… if they cured cancer or something =). But then again… they are chocolate… and I liiike chocolate XD.
The transfer from Belgium to dehli was really smoothe; no problems here!
Once in dehli, holy crap, I felt like I was in a sauna. Having visited te Philippines, iknow that it gets humid upon exiting the airplane… but this was just toomuch! It was like… walking into a lockerroom with no ventilation with the thermostats placed at a thousand, elevendy-billion! XD. Wow.
The people we met were super friendly, but this guy kept fllowing me and want to carry my luggage. I kept telling him that I was fine but he kep insisiting; I don’t think I look “that” weak =/. Hahaha. The ride in our jeep was just ridiculous… you have to drive tooo close to one another. If the road is 3 lanes wide, you can fit 8.
Upon finally arriving to he hotel (with barely any sleep btw) we ended u sleeping our first day through… we got up at like4 in the afternoon. We decided to walk around and these are a few things I noticed:
- crossing traffic is like playing frogger
- when they honk at you, its not because their mad, but because they want to pass you… or that your going to get hit.
- Christian (my 6’6’’ tall friend) is really, REALLY TALL
- Almost everyone here wears western clothing and especially dresshirts for the guys.
- Watch your pockets because you don’t know who watching
- Oh, and that the servers constanly ask Christian, father creamer and I if we wanted beer… not that I didn’t want any XD.hehehe.
After walking around, we went for supper at this Chinese restaurant… although I did not see a single Chinese person at all! I don’t know if it was the water or the the food, but mannnn did I have a bad stomach ache (THANKS FOR THE TOILET PAPER MILCAH!).
When we got back, we decided to get back to sleep… again… hahaha talk about jetlag. Who knows, maybe I’ll get taller by the end of this trip XD.
That concluded day 1, pretty much.
The next day consisted of more exploring!! Still jet lagged, Christian and I got up at 5 in the morning to go exploring! The city is absolutely quiet!! In about 1 and a half hours, however, the honking, the yelling would resume. After breakfast, father creamer taught Christian and I how to tak the metro… ohhh yeah, I getting pro =P. we took the metro all the way to what looked like st peters square, except you’d have to replace all the statues with brand names shops.. I swear… wowwwwww. One of the most interexting set ups I have seen! =).
While we were wondering around, people kept walking up to us, wanting to give us advice and just talking. This is what I learned
- they keep following you and show you places where to buy things because they get a cut of whatever you buy
- if you don’t go where to buy things, they’ll keep talking to you.. then charge you for all te info they shared!
Ohhh man, this kind of ruined part of the adventure… until Christian came up wit the bright idea aobut talking French! It happened thus:
… while we were walking, this guy was trying to bring us to emporiums where we could buy lots of souvenirs; after 15 mins (which, I m sure, is underchanging how long he wasw walking with us) he said, do you speak French. Christians eyes began to glow a mischievous yellow colour and a smirk crept up his face (note: this is exaggerating for the sake of making this interesting XD). At that point, Christian began to speak his French. This guy then started to speak French… which consisted of two phrases of hello, and comme ci comme ca. At this point, no more engish was spoken. The guy then asked what language I spoke.. chrstian, told them I spoke Russian…. O_O. hahhaa oh dear… and with that, the guy left! From that moment on. We’ve bbeen able to minimize our encounters by a lot =).
Once the guy left, we went to te templeof “Hanuman: the monkey god.” The tasxi said: you know how America has superman, and spiderman? Well.. we have hanuman!!” XD. That was awesome. But I digress, this temple is defintley one of the most reverent places I’ve been too. We had to first take off our shoes and walk up the stairs to get the inned atrium. To our left, this man was kissing each step as he walke dup the stair case. Inside people prayed infront of any god they felt would help them the most. What I thought was interesting were te bells infront of each god; apparently, the diea is being seen by the god sooo to insue it, wake the god up!! In one of the rooms was a “shrine for shiva” with a linga under it. People at all sides were pouring water on it or placing flowers all around. I really wanted to take a picture… but it felt sooo rude to do soo… I really do think prayer is energy; in this case, this placed was fully charged.
After leaving the temple and hours of walking around in the heat… we learned a very important lesson: stroes don’t open until 11! Christian and I were soo excited that we had to wait more than an hour before we could check out the deals. We decided to wait at mc donalds until the sotres opened and this was what I saw andt thought:
- the mc chicken looks like a mutated chicken nugget
- there were no bigmacs… unless you want to try the “maharaja mac” which isn’t that bad XD.
- Mc d’s is sooooooo upscaled over here!
And with that we went home… and returned to the mall (connaught place) around 7 pm XD.
The next day consisted of pretty much the same thing. Except that we went to church. This is how I can describe mass:
- they have fans like in fillip[ino churches but instead of having multiple fans, you replace them 3 with 1 gigantic, airplace blade.
- The music is similar to that of st. ignatious at some points
- The building was in the form of a basilica! Absolutely beautiful
- Everyone was very reverent and very serious.. I liked it =)
After church, chrsitian and I did some more shopping…lol a t this market the taxi deriver showed us markets beneath connaught place. Its crazy because he said when you haggle, you can get them to remove up to 75% of the asking value.. woowwwww.
When we got home, we went to the airport to pick up the remaining adventurers… were up until2 waiting… tiiiired -_-;;.
Welps! This all that came to my mind this morning, at 8:25 am. Today we’re heading off to the “hindu Disney land.” Oh man, Im sooo stoked!! Anyways, sorry for SUCH a long entry!! I ahd to make up for lost time! Take care everyone!!! Namaste! (hello and goodbye in hindi).
-roley
Hello everyone!!!
I finally have access to a computer after 3 days! Turns out the hotel did have computer; we just assumed it was out of service since it was all covered up and off -_-;;.
Anyways!! Things have gone well soo far on this trip!
Let me begin with the plane ride. To get here, I took a ride from Winnipeg to Toronto, then Belgium, the to delhi. In Toronto, didn’t see much… except that they charged like3 bucks for a bottle of diet pepsi (Father creamer, if you don’t know him already, Is a big fan of diet pepsi/coke =P). Nothing special really happened here except that we went around for a bit looking for a cibc bank which was near impossible to find). When we got back to the airport for our flight and boarded “jet air ways,” man was I in for a surprise! In econiomy, we had like people giving us free candy, all te movies we could watch (saw 21, vantage point, and this funny comedy from hong kong called “Playboy Cop” (don’t get any ideas!). When I got bored, or needed a break, the videogame system was available.. sweet!! The food was good too; except that being at the back of the plane left me with the left overs. But! I’m still a big fan of airplane food =). The flight attendedants were very courteous and always had as mile on my face…and the jazz music playing in the bg was awesome =). Oh an not to mention complementary alcoholic beverages… ;). My only concern were the seat, they weren’t really confortable… ughhhhh. Sleeping was sooo difficult!
When we got to Belgium, I was blown away by to things: the amount of people in line, and the ridiculous prices on the chocolates. I know Belgium chocolates is good BUT when a box can cost you 50+ euros (almost 100 dollars Canadian) I almost cried! Maybe I’d buy these chocolates… if they cured cancer or something =). But then again… they are chocolate… and I liiike chocolate XD.
The transfer from Belgium to dehli was really smoothe; no problems here!
Once in dehli, holy crap, I felt like I was in a sauna. Having visited te Philippines, iknow that it gets humid upon exiting the airplane… but this was just toomuch! It was like… walking into a lockerroom with no ventilation with the thermostats placed at a thousand, elevendy-billion! XD. Wow.
The people we met were super friendly, but this guy kept fllowing me and want to carry my luggage. I kept telling him that I was fine but he kep insisiting; I don’t think I look “that” weak =/. Hahaha. The ride in our jeep was just ridiculous… you have to drive tooo close to one another. If the road is 3 lanes wide, you can fit 8.
Upon finally arriving to he hotel (with barely any sleep btw) we ended u sleeping our first day through… we got up at like4 in the afternoon. We decided to walk around and these are a few things I noticed:
- crossing traffic is like playing frogger
- when they honk at you, its not because their mad, but because they want to pass you… or that your going to get hit.
- Christian (my 6’6’’ tall friend) is really, REALLY TALL
- Almost everyone here wears western clothing and especially dresshirts for the guys.
- Watch your pockets because you don’t know who watching
- Oh, and that the servers constanly ask Christian, father creamer and I if we wanted beer… not that I didn’t want any XD.hehehe.
After walking around, we went for supper at this Chinese restaurant… although I did not see a single Chinese person at all! I don’t know if it was the water or the the food, but mannnn did I have a bad stomach ache (THANKS FOR THE TOILET PAPER MILCAH!).
When we got back, we decided to get back to sleep… again… hahaha talk about jetlag. Who knows, maybe I’ll get taller by the end of this trip XD.
That concluded day 1, pretty much.
The next day consisted of more exploring!! Still jet lagged, Christian and I got up at 5 in the morning to go exploring! The city is absolutely quiet!! In about 1 and a half hours, however, the honking, the yelling would resume. After breakfast, father creamer taught Christian and I how to tak the metro… ohhh yeah, I getting pro =P. we took the metro all the way to what looked like st peters square, except you’d have to replace all the statues with brand names shops.. I swear… wowwwwww. One of the most interexting set ups I have seen! =).
While we were wondering around, people kept walking up to us, wanting to give us advice and just talking. This is what I learned
- they keep following you and show you places where to buy things because they get a cut of whatever you buy
- if you don’t go where to buy things, they’ll keep talking to you.. then charge you for all te info they shared!
Ohhh man, this kind of ruined part of the adventure… until Christian came up wit the bright idea aobut talking French! It happened thus:
… while we were walking, this guy was trying to bring us to emporiums where we could buy lots of souvenirs; after 15 mins (which, I m sure, is underchanging how long he wasw walking with us) he said, do you speak French. Christians eyes began to glow a mischievous yellow colour and a smirk crept up his face (note: this is exaggerating for the sake of making this interesting XD). At that point, Christian began to speak his French. This guy then started to speak French… which consisted of two phrases of hello, and comme ci comme ca. At this point, no more engish was spoken. The guy then asked what language I spoke.. chrstian, told them I spoke Russian…. O_O. hahhaa oh dear… and with that, the guy left! From that moment on. We’ve bbeen able to minimize our encounters by a lot =).
Once the guy left, we went to te templeof “Hanuman: the monkey god.” The tasxi said: you know how America has superman, and spiderman? Well.. we have hanuman!!” XD. That was awesome. But I digress, this temple is defintley one of the most reverent places I’ve been too. We had to first take off our shoes and walk up the stairs to get the inned atrium. To our left, this man was kissing each step as he walke dup the stair case. Inside people prayed infront of any god they felt would help them the most. What I thought was interesting were te bells infront of each god; apparently, the diea is being seen by the god sooo to insue it, wake the god up!! In one of the rooms was a “shrine for shiva” with a linga under it. People at all sides were pouring water on it or placing flowers all around. I really wanted to take a picture… but it felt sooo rude to do soo… I really do think prayer is energy; in this case, this placed was fully charged.
After leaving the temple and hours of walking around in the heat… we learned a very important lesson: stroes don’t open until 11! Christian and I were soo excited that we had to wait more than an hour before we could check out the deals. We decided to wait at mc donalds until the sotres opened and this was what I saw andt thought:
- the mc chicken looks like a mutated chicken nugget
- there were no bigmacs… unless you want to try the “maharaja mac” which isn’t that bad XD.
- Mc d’s is sooooooo upscaled over here!
And with that we went home… and returned to the mall (connaught place) around 7 pm XD.
The next day consisted of pretty much the same thing. Except that we went to church. This is how I can describe mass:
- they have fans like in fillip[ino churches but instead of having multiple fans, you replace them 3 with 1 gigantic, airplace blade.
- The music is similar to that of st. ignatious at some points
- The building was in the form of a basilica! Absolutely beautiful
- Everyone was very reverent and very serious.. I liked it =)
After church, chrsitian and I did some more shopping…lol a t this market the taxi deriver showed us markets beneath connaught place. Its crazy because he said when you haggle, you can get them to remove up to 75% of the asking value.. woowwwww.
When we got home, we went to the airport to pick up the remaining adventurers… were up until2 waiting… tiiiired -_-;;.
Welps! This all that came to my mind this morning, at 8:25 am. Today we’re heading off to the “hindu Disney land.” Oh man, Im sooo stoked!! Anyways, sorry for SUCH a long entry!! I ahd to make up for lost time! Take care everyone!!! Namaste! (hello and goodbye in hindi).
-roley
Monday, July 21, 2008
Roley Leyson Autobiography!
Hello!
School related information:
My name is Roley! I am currently a science student entering my third year of university. I intend on finishing my science degree this year in hopes of entering my target faculty: Education. My goal is to become a science/ fine arts teacher. I will also have a minor Catholic studies after I take this course. I also have dance experience sooooooo I could definitely teach some dance if given the opportunity!
In terms of which schools I attended, I went to Holy Ghost School for elementary and junior high; St. Paul’s High School for high school.
Family information:
I am the oldest child of three children (although not the tallest…). My brother is entering grade 12 while my sister is entering grade 8. What’s interesting is that I should be finishing my degree this year at the same time that my brother and sister graduate form there respective schools! Crazy eh!?
By the way, I can’t forget my parents!! They rock =).
Purpose for taking this trip:
I am doing this course for Catholic studies to fulfill the requirementsneeded for a Catholic studies minor. I really want to see the Fatipursikri (sp?) and the place that Akbar the great held his meetings/ debates with people of other religions. I find his story quite interesting and I look forward to learning more about this man. I also look forward to seeing how the school system runs over there. Because I intend of pursuing education, it only makes sense to try and learn from other teachers and become exposed to different methods of teaching. I cannot wait to see all the artwork over in India! I took an art history last year and was blown away by the massive temples made out of solid rock!!! Indian artwork is truly remarkable!
Extra information:
I am very right brained despite my science education orientation. For example, I love to dance! I am currently part of one of Winnipeg’s hiphop dance team: UN1TE. Dance is definitely one of my greatest passions… if you see a random asian guydancing at a bus stop there is a good chance you’re looking at me… sooo smile and wave! I also enjoy doing ballroom dance! Salsa and waltz are beautiful dances. I was trying to learn some contemporary but its hard… reagardless, I’m still going to keep at it!
Here’s a link to some of mydance teams videos!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL7pAzuKRwk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFJ5ZFm-Cpc&feature=related
I also LOVE ART and decided to return/ pursue my passion after my trip to italy! My goal used to be to enter medicine. Upon taking Father Creamer’s other travel study trip, my love for art grew and grew and I decided to change paths where I can still use all my science credits but, at the same time, take art! I am a big fan of baroque architecture and of Bernini, the sculptor. His theatrical approach to art appeals to me and definitely reflects a lot of my personality: I like an audience and making (errr maybe trying is a better word) things look ridiculously amazing. If you know something about the ennegram, I’m a 3!
here's some of my work!
I loooove music too. I used to play piano but stopped (school was getting to stressful and… hmm… lets say I’m not to fond of practising theory… hehehe). I love listening to how the melodies, the intertwining silence and sound, and the movements of the notes and how these affect my mood, my mindset, my energy levels… When I hear some music… ohhh man, I just have to start dancing!! That or just let the music move through me as I “feel” it.
Well this is all for now. Keep reading to learn more about me and my adventures!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Travel Study Outline
Field Studies India: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Darjeeling District, Kolkata
FACULTY OF ARTS: CATH 2100 (6 credits) or SWRK 4050 (6 credits) FACULTY OF EDUCATION: EDUA 5220 & 5230 (6 credits) INTERSESSION 2008
DATES: Classes: on July 15, 16, and 17, plus Three Weeks in India (arrive Sat, July 26; leave Kolkata for further travel or home on Sun, Aug 17, 2008)
OVERVIEW
Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur (“Golden Triangle”) will be our introduction to the incredible juxtaposition of histories and cultures that is India. “New” Delhi, Edwin Lutyens’ incredible sandstone and marble celebration of British power and the contrasting simple memorial at the site of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation, will be the foci of our study of modern India. Shah Jahan’s capital, old Delhi (along fabled Chandni Chowk, the call to prayer from the Jama Masjid mingles with the sights and sounds and smells of the spice market), and Agra’s Taj Mahal (exquisite ethereal tomb built for the love of his life), will draw us into Mughal India. As we stroll through the “Ghost City” of Fatehepur Sikri we will learn of the syncretic faith Akbar the Great cobbled together there and blended into the very architecture of the red sandstone buildings. Rajastan’s “pink city” of Jaipur, with its wondrous palaces and amazingly accurate Jantar Mantar Observatory will bring us into the world of the Rajput Maharajas.
During two weeks in North Bengal, activity will be centred, initially, in the town of Darjeeling. Nestled in the Himalayan foothills at an altitude of 7000 feet, the “Queen of the Hill Stations” is renowned for its scenery, tea gardens, hospitality, unique “Toy Train”, and incredible collection of schools. Our University’s Memorandum of Understanding with St. Joseph’s Jesuit College, gives us privileged access to the “hills”. We will come to know the remarkable people behind the 19th century imposing gothic school at North Point and the ecologically sustainable Bamboo School on a remote Tea Garden financed by former North Pointers. Behind the grey concrete exterior of Hayden Hall in the town’s bazaar, we will find a grassroots social service agency focussed on empowering women. At Jesu Ashram, we will interact with a caring staff of nurses and volunteers serving the poorest of the poor, including those with TB, Aids, and leprosy. In education, health care, and cooperative ventures of all kinds, we learn from grassroots animators as they work alongside India’s urban and rural poor in their daily struggles and efforts to control their own destinies.
At the end of an overnight train journey on the fabled Darjeeling Mail, we step out of Sealdah Station into Kolkata — Kipling’s “city of the dreadful night” as well as Dominique Lapierre’s “city of joy”. From Mother Teresa’s tomb and Home for the Dying at the Kali Temple, to life and death along the banks of the Hooghly River, Kolkata will challenge, amaze, and inspire, as no other place can. A major focus of our experience will be Loreto Day School, widely recognized in India as a model for equality-based educational change and the centre of a remarkable set of outreach programs. 300 “Rainbow” street children who call Loreto’s roof their home, scores of Barefoot Teachers, and 1100 students who become teachers themselves at age 10, offer educational and social programs that touch the lives of at least 250,000 of the poorest of the poor in Kolkata.
Everywhere, our senses, minds, and hearts will be overwhelmed! From Hindu pilgrims in their thousands along the roads to persistent beggars everywhere, from the chaotic and noisy traffic of Delhi and Kolkata to the quiet peace in a Jain Temple and the misty hill paths of Darjeeling, the timeless mystery, and incredible diversity of India awaits!
DESCRIPTION OF DAYS IN FIELD
WEEK ONE: “GOLDEN TRIANGLE”
Hotels:
Delhi July 26, 27, and 28 (Hotel Metro Heights); Agra July 29 (Howard Park Plaza);
Jaipur July 30 and 31 (Hotel Holiday Inn); Delhi August 1 (Hotel Metro Heights)Travel: by AC coach; Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Delhi
Old & New Delhi: Adjusting to realities of India while learning about
(a) Old Delhi (Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan’s Capitol)
* the Jama Masjid (Universal Mosque), said to be India’s largest; can accommodate 20,000 people for prayers
* the Red Fort, 17th century fortifications and palaces (we do not go inside as we will visit the better preserved Red Fort in Agra
* cycle rickshaws along the fabled Chandni Chowk (Silver Street) and through the spice market, Gold/Silversmith market etc.
* Sisganj Gurudwara (on the spot where the 9th Sikh guru was beheaded); introduction to Sikhism; visit to prayer hall and kitchen facilities preparing “langar”
* Emperor Humayun’s Tomb (16th century; model for later Mogul Monuments, including Taj Mahal)
(b) British Raj (Rule)
* Edwin Lutyen’s “New” city; symbol of British power and supremacy (700 million bricks, 100,000 cubic feet of marble), inaugurated in 1931 — Connaught Place, Raj Path, India Gate (42 m high), Parliament House, Government Secretariats, and Presidential Palace (Rashtrapati Bhawan).
(c) Other
* Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial) on the bank of the Yamuna River; Gandhi Museum, Salt Protest Memorial
* Qutab Minar (70 m victory tower of Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199); a UNESCO World Heritage Monument
* Jantar Mantar (observatory built by the Rajput King Sawai Jai Singh II in 1724 (we will go inside the larger, better preserved, observatory in Jaipur!)
* world renowned “Lotus Temple” (Baha’i Faith)
* Hanuman (“Monkey”) Temple (Connaught Place)
* Sikh Gurdwara Bangla Sahib (18th century centre of pilgrimage; visited by thousands of people of different religions and castes every day)
* Lakshminarayan Temple; modern (1938) Hindu Temple, dedicated to Vishnu and Lakshmi
Agra & Fatehpur Sikri: Guided visits to two World Heritage Sites:
* 135 km south of Delhi — Mathura (where Krishna was born) and Vrindavana (where he spend his childhood) are 135km south of Delhi and among the most important places of pilgrimage for his devotees. There are 5,000 + temples in Vrindavana (if we don’t run into problems along the way, we will stop here)
* 10 km from Agra — Sikandra, red sandstone and white marble Mausoleum of Akbar the Great (blend of Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Christian Motifs and styles — much like the syncretic religious philosophy he developed).
(a) Agra
* Agra Fort
* drive through the, still recognizable, British Cantonment area (In India, a permanent military installation and supports; our “army base”)
* visit the Taj Mahal by Sunset, one of the “Wonders of the World”
(b) Fatehpur Sikri (“Ghost City”) former capital of Mughal Emperor Akbar (home of his experiment in universal religion); Mosque
Jaipur “Pink City” of the Maharajas (Rajputs) Observatory
* excursion to the Amber Fort (ascend the hill on an elephant).
* Jaipur city; including City Palace of the Jaipur Maharaja, the honey-comb designed Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) and the amazingly accurate Jantar Mantar stone Observatory.
WEEK TWO: DARJEELING DISTRICT
August 2: Delhi - Bagdogra (9W 601, Dep. at 1010 – Arr. At 1405 Hours)We spend seven nights in the Darjeeling District (plains & hills) — Krishna Apartments, Darjeeling (convenient to North Point and Darjeeling town). One week of classes, excursions, and “hands on” experience (large Tibetan Buddhist presence in area; tribal peoples, various social service agencies, tea garden, etc.).
St. Joseph’s School, North Point (classes 3-12) — St. Joseph’s College — Tibetan Refugee Centre — Zoo & Himalayan Mountaineering Institute — Tea Industry & visit to Garden (Lalit Tirkey, S.J. and Mr. Harish Mukhia) — Hayden Hall with Fr. Patrick & Noreen Dunne — visit to Hemlata Memorial Society with Rita Ghosh — “Toy Train”[UNESCO World Heritage Monument] to Ghoom Loop, Gurka Memorial, etc. with Upendra Pradhan — EcoTourism with Dr. Milindo Chetraborty (Director of Centre for Studies in Rural Economy, Appropriate Technology and Environment (CREATE) at St. Joseph's College — Mr C. B. Rai, former Principal of St. Joseph’s College, and expert on political developments in the Hills (an “autonomous” region in December 2005) — Peace Pagoda — Observatory Hill and Mahakal Hindu Temple — Dali (Drukpa Kargyud) Monastery, home of the 12th Drukchen Rimpoche and 200 + Buddhist monks — Tiger Hill (8500 feet, to see the sun rise?) — Cricket Match (?) —
All Day Trips: 1. to Kalimpong to visit Gandhi Ashram (school for children of “forest dwellers” with innovative violin program), Homeopathic Clinic, and unusual “Bamboo School” at Mongpu tea garden 2. to Jesu Ashram (hospital for the destitute: TB patients, lepers, AIDS, etc.) in Matigara on the plains, School for children of the “rock breakers”, Gayaganga (oldest Jesuit mission on the plains (terai), St. Alphonsus School, Kurseong
New Jalpaiguri – Kolkata on Darjeeling Mail, overnight 2nd class sleeper to Kolkata (8:00 pm on August 9)
WEEK THREE: KOLKATA
Arriving at Sealdah Railway Station, walk over to Loreto day School Sealdah for breakfast and orientation to Kolkata by Sr. Cyril Mooney. Later to Hotel House 43 (home for 7 nights) in the heart of the “City of Joy.”
Visits to some/ or all of the following:
(a) Days of the Raj: Dalhousie Square & Writers Building (centre of British India administration until 1911), Victoria Memorial, Fort William, Ochterlony Monument (Shahid Minar, a 48 metre column tower), Raj Bhawan, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Maidan, St. James Church (consecrated, 1836) & “black hole” monument, Hooghley River, Howrah Bridge (busiest in world), Botanical Gardens (largest banyan tree), Marble Palace (1835 private mansion), Indian Museum, etc.
(b) Rabindranath Tagore’s birth place (Jorasako), Parsee Temple, Ramkrishna Mission International Headquarters, Jain Temple and neighbourhood of the potters, Dakshineswar Kali Temple Complex, Mother Teresa’s Home for the Destitute and Dying (Kali Temple), MC Mother House and Mother Teresa’s Tomb, Loreto Day School Sealdah, St. Xavier’s College & outreach, etc.
Sunday August 17, Kolkata–Delhi–Home Assistance at hotel and transfer to airport to board flight for Delhi. Assistance and transfer to International airport to board flight for Toronto.
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