We are safely back in the US after almost 48 hours of travel...we left Rishikish around 6:45 am on Sunday, Jan 4 for a 6 1/2 hour car ride down narrow, windy, bumpy mountain roads to Delhi to catch a 2 hr. flight for Mumbai...from there we flew overnight to Amsterdam, then after going through another thorough security screening, flew onto Atlanta - arriving road wreary and rumpled. All the flights were thankfully smooth and uneventful. There were long security lines to just get out of the airport and after all the travel on planes in India and international flights, we were very happy that all our bags arrived. We picked them up and had to take them to customs where we put them onto a conveyor belt and were told to pick them up at the final baggage claim # 1 after we completed the final security check. One of my bags didn't make it out of customs with the rest and I'm still waiting for it - (I just talked with Delta and it is now in the baggage office in Atlanta waiting for room on one of the flights to Nashville later today)...After waiting 2 hrs for it, we finally filed a report and left the airport for an hour ride to John's house to pick up Jennifer's car and drive 4 hrs back to Nashville...arriving around midnight last night...
Impressions of India will emerge over time - there is so much - sights, sounds, smells - to process...I'm looking forward to reviewing the iternary along with all the pictures and mix in the memories...and images that were not possible to adequately capture or to capture at all as we passed by while driving through the countryside as we covered many kilometers going from one place to another. Crowded cities; rich farmland; ox carts heavily loaded with harvested sugar cane; women mixing straw with cow dung to make 'patties' to dry for fuel or building material; cutting slabs from rock quarries; families living in shelters along very busy roads made with everything from rusted metal sheets to tarps to straw; people taking care of bodily functions in full view of anyone passing by anywhere; trash piles for cows, pigs, dogs to eat through; plastic trash everywhere; smoggy cities; blue sky in the mountains; ancient holy sites; poverty in the extreme; apparent chaotic traffic situations that mysteriously work as drivers of all sorts of vehicles, animals, and pedestrians work in concert to move everyone/thing safely through mazes of obstacles; and in the midst of all this, people smiling and waving as strangers pass by.
More will be added as thoughts, memories, impressions, and details emerge through the jet-lagged fog that is my brain at this point. As mentioned in an earlier post, there was just no time for blogging on this trip and limited, consistent internet access was not available. All in all, it was the 'trip-of-a-lifetime' experience and as 'they' say - There is no place like home.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Friday, December 25, 2009
December 26, 2009
Just got in...how frustrating...the web connection is slower than dial-up and interrupted constantly...so there is again not much time...my apologies...
We are about to leave the Hotel Rambagh Palace - voted the best hotel in the world...and it certainly exceeds anything we have experienced before - you can check it out on-line...I haven't had time to figure out how to upload pics at this point - but have filled one 4 gb card - we are flying out this afternoon and will be at the Lake Palace tonight - we are expecting another one-in-a-lifetime experience...
We have seen many sights since we last posted...Delhi was crowded and had a different feel from Mumbai, Agra was interesting and the Taj was incredible. The pace had been tiring - we have seen a lot and spent a lot of time in the bus driving through the countryside. It certainly has been eye-opening to see how the people actually live. Traveling on the roads is an experience unlike any...buses share the road with camels, carts, cows, pigs, fruit carts, loads of everything imaginable, people walking, women carrying large items on their heads...horns honking and lots of dogging around other vehicles on the road...we have had many near misses - within inches - of other bues, trucks, carts...all in all - it has been enlighting and adventuresome....I have tried to capture some of this on flim, but am certain there is no way to adequately show it...
Many of us were so tired fro all the travel and lack of sleep - early mornings to late nights - that we opted out of several activities to just enjoy this marvel of a hotel...with all its grandeur...now it's time to move on...will try again if it's possible...I apologize for errors in typing as there is no spell check and this computer is very sensitive and time is so short...
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a Happy New Year...
We are about to leave the Hotel Rambagh Palace - voted the best hotel in the world...and it certainly exceeds anything we have experienced before - you can check it out on-line...I haven't had time to figure out how to upload pics at this point - but have filled one 4 gb card - we are flying out this afternoon and will be at the Lake Palace tonight - we are expecting another one-in-a-lifetime experience...
We have seen many sights since we last posted...Delhi was crowded and had a different feel from Mumbai, Agra was interesting and the Taj was incredible. The pace had been tiring - we have seen a lot and spent a lot of time in the bus driving through the countryside. It certainly has been eye-opening to see how the people actually live. Traveling on the roads is an experience unlike any...buses share the road with camels, carts, cows, pigs, fruit carts, loads of everything imaginable, people walking, women carrying large items on their heads...horns honking and lots of dogging around other vehicles on the road...we have had many near misses - within inches - of other bues, trucks, carts...all in all - it has been enlighting and adventuresome....I have tried to capture some of this on flim, but am certain there is no way to adequately show it...
Many of us were so tired fro all the travel and lack of sleep - early mornings to late nights - that we opted out of several activities to just enjoy this marvel of a hotel...with all its grandeur...now it's time to move on...will try again if it's possible...I apologize for errors in typing as there is no spell check and this computer is very sensitive and time is so short...
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a Happy New Year...
Monday, December 21, 2009
December 21, 2009
Another long day and tomorrow will be longer and earlier - so I really don't have much time as it is late once again...we are leaving Aurangabad tomorrow at 6:30 am and will end up in Delhi at the end of the day...there hasn't been a chance to tell you about Mumbai and there is so much to take in...I'm sure it will be weeks before things sort out...here's a brief overview...and it will only be a stream of consciousness and not organized in any way...my apologies...am working on too little sleep over too many days...
The pace is frenetic day and night as cars, buses, bicycles, black and yellow taxis, people walking, 3 wheeled things, people sleeping, dogs prowling, and hawkers pestering all share the same space. Horns are always present as the vehicles communicate with everyone to get out of the way - there seems to be no rules - you can drive whereever you like and stoplights only seem to be suggestions. One takes their life in their hands when crossing a street...there are people sleeping within 3 feet of the buses' wheels - right on the roadway or along a concrete divider - there was a child sleeping in this position and I have a picture of a woman with 4 children ( 2 babies) sitting in such a place begging...
People live in very sparse situations or along the roadway or under a tree in some places...nothing like anything I've seen anywhere else...We did see the slum where Slumdog Millionaire was filmed and learned some interesting things about slum living...apparently most of the people who live there do have jobs and we did see that a lot of people were working - sorting things to recycle, making baskets, or a variety of other jobs...we were told that the people actually like living there - they have electricity and running water - they pay utility bills - they prefer living there to moving elsewhere and paying more rent...prices in Mumbai for housing is very high and most cannot afford it. Apparently everyone in Mumbai who wants to work can get a job - if they can't get a job, they either are lazy or are not qualified for the job they applied for...the guide told us this - she is a retired social worker who worked with the people in the slums and with a charity of Mother Theresa...I checked this with the doctor who organized this trip and he concurred. They also said that the ones who are begging are too lazy to work and don't want the discipline of working...Apparently the ones who sleep out on the street and who beg and the ones in the slums all come from places outside of Mumbai and are causing all the crowding since there is a shortage of housing caused by all the people who come there - viscious circle...the ones who are willing to work are able to eventually move out of the slums with the government's help when they prove they pay their bills for a certain length of time - I think our guide said 25 yrs...but don't hold me to that...I was surprised to hear all this because it certainly wasn't the idea with which I arrived.
The air in Mumbai and here in Aurangabad is very smoggy...you will see that in my pictures when I get back...we saw a ship dumping black stuff into the sea and the guide says no one really cares about it...the water is very polluted as well as the air...the doctor said there are some things that are beginning to happen to try and clean things up, but it will take a long time...there also seems to be a shortage of trash containers since there is litter everywhere - strange to see since our streets and roads and cities mostly seem to do a decent job of controlling litter...The guide we had in Mumbai and the one here also mentioned global warming so that seems to be on the minds of people here...
We did some shopping in Mumbai - prices in the stores are set, but deals can be had on the streets...we shopped mostly in the stores so far as the quality is usually better - at least in the 2 shops we went to...as an example - I got a couple tops - cotton - Indians only wear cotton - that were only about $8 - 10 US each...it is about 50 rupies to the dollar...the colors here are beautiful - lots of bright colors and a lot of bling on things...you see a real mix of saris and western clothing - actually - I see most men in western jeans and polo shirts and a lot of women in beautiful saris.
Everyone looks fresh and not wrinkled...I asked the guide about that and she said everyone irons everything - they do not like looking rumpled. Some women may wash the clothes at home and may send them out for ironing or they may have a maid who irons...we drove by the laundry - it is amazing to see - all the clothes are hung on lines and seem to be sorted by color - I have no idea how they manage to get things back to the right person...we were not able to tour it - just had time for a drive by but the guide said a story about it had been on discovery channel recently(?).
The cast system is still operating, but we were told that things were changing - now there are some marriages between persons from different casts and the younger generation may not always have an arranged marriage.
There are many more things to share about Mumbai, but I really have to get some sleep...we have a long day of travel tomorrow and I have no idea when next I can get on-line...
Have a very Merry Christmas if I can't get back before then...
The pace is frenetic day and night as cars, buses, bicycles, black and yellow taxis, people walking, 3 wheeled things, people sleeping, dogs prowling, and hawkers pestering all share the same space. Horns are always present as the vehicles communicate with everyone to get out of the way - there seems to be no rules - you can drive whereever you like and stoplights only seem to be suggestions. One takes their life in their hands when crossing a street...there are people sleeping within 3 feet of the buses' wheels - right on the roadway or along a concrete divider - there was a child sleeping in this position and I have a picture of a woman with 4 children ( 2 babies) sitting in such a place begging...
People live in very sparse situations or along the roadway or under a tree in some places...nothing like anything I've seen anywhere else...We did see the slum where Slumdog Millionaire was filmed and learned some interesting things about slum living...apparently most of the people who live there do have jobs and we did see that a lot of people were working - sorting things to recycle, making baskets, or a variety of other jobs...we were told that the people actually like living there - they have electricity and running water - they pay utility bills - they prefer living there to moving elsewhere and paying more rent...prices in Mumbai for housing is very high and most cannot afford it. Apparently everyone in Mumbai who wants to work can get a job - if they can't get a job, they either are lazy or are not qualified for the job they applied for...the guide told us this - she is a retired social worker who worked with the people in the slums and with a charity of Mother Theresa...I checked this with the doctor who organized this trip and he concurred. They also said that the ones who are begging are too lazy to work and don't want the discipline of working...Apparently the ones who sleep out on the street and who beg and the ones in the slums all come from places outside of Mumbai and are causing all the crowding since there is a shortage of housing caused by all the people who come there - viscious circle...the ones who are willing to work are able to eventually move out of the slums with the government's help when they prove they pay their bills for a certain length of time - I think our guide said 25 yrs...but don't hold me to that...I was surprised to hear all this because it certainly wasn't the idea with which I arrived.
The air in Mumbai and here in Aurangabad is very smoggy...you will see that in my pictures when I get back...we saw a ship dumping black stuff into the sea and the guide says no one really cares about it...the water is very polluted as well as the air...the doctor said there are some things that are beginning to happen to try and clean things up, but it will take a long time...there also seems to be a shortage of trash containers since there is litter everywhere - strange to see since our streets and roads and cities mostly seem to do a decent job of controlling litter...The guide we had in Mumbai and the one here also mentioned global warming so that seems to be on the minds of people here...
We did some shopping in Mumbai - prices in the stores are set, but deals can be had on the streets...we shopped mostly in the stores so far as the quality is usually better - at least in the 2 shops we went to...as an example - I got a couple tops - cotton - Indians only wear cotton - that were only about $8 - 10 US each...it is about 50 rupies to the dollar...the colors here are beautiful - lots of bright colors and a lot of bling on things...you see a real mix of saris and western clothing - actually - I see most men in western jeans and polo shirts and a lot of women in beautiful saris.
Everyone looks fresh and not wrinkled...I asked the guide about that and she said everyone irons everything - they do not like looking rumpled. Some women may wash the clothes at home and may send them out for ironing or they may have a maid who irons...we drove by the laundry - it is amazing to see - all the clothes are hung on lines and seem to be sorted by color - I have no idea how they manage to get things back to the right person...we were not able to tour it - just had time for a drive by but the guide said a story about it had been on discovery channel recently(?).
The cast system is still operating, but we were told that things were changing - now there are some marriages between persons from different casts and the younger generation may not always have an arranged marriage.
There are many more things to share about Mumbai, but I really have to get some sleep...we have a long day of travel tomorrow and I have no idea when next I can get on-line...
Have a very Merry Christmas if I can't get back before then...
Saturday, December 19, 2009
December 20,2009
It's just after midnight here...at the end of our first full day...we arrived in Mumbai the 19th (actually very early on the 20th) after a long day/night of travel...the best thing about the trip here was that both legs of the flight were very smooth...we were delayed getting out of Amsterdam so we were about 45 minutes late getting into Mumbai...it was very warm and muggy and there were people everywhere...the bags took quite a while to show up - there were about 18 of us on the same flight...by the time we all collected our stuff, got through, customs, and got out of the airport - it was around 2 am...the waiting area out side the airport was absolutely packed all along the holding rail...people calling trying to get you to go with them, people with signs with names on them...others waiting for family/friends...nothing like I've seen at any other airport - especially at that time of night/morning...finding Amit's smiling face in the crowd was a huge relief for us all...he had a huge, airconditioned bus waiting for us. We all piled in, exhausted for the ride to the hotel...
The trip in from the airport was an eye-opener for us all...we rode for miles - probably 20 minutes or so...through an area unlike any we had seen before...one hears about people living in such conditions, but it is certainly one thing to hear about it and another to see it....people living in miles and miles of what appears to be shelters put together with whatever they find...lots of people sleeping on the sidewalks - some with only the clothes they wore, some had a blanket, some sleeping on a small triangle of an island where 2 roads come together - cars racing by, horns honking, people walking or riding a bicycle...women alone, children alone...
Imagine our surprise when the bus stops and begins to back up into what looks like an alley in a 'neighborhood' like we had been seeing and it turns out to be our hotel...we were even more surprised when the hotel turned out to be very nice...what a contrast...
We finally made it to bed around 3:30 this morning and had to be up by 8:30 for breakfast...then we were off around 11:15 for an adventure...and since it is well after midnight and we have to be up for breakfast by 7 and loaded in the bus by 8...I'm going to have to continue whenever I can get on-line again...the jet lag hit me at dinner - it started hitting some this afternoon...
The trip in from the airport was an eye-opener for us all...we rode for miles - probably 20 minutes or so...through an area unlike any we had seen before...one hears about people living in such conditions, but it is certainly one thing to hear about it and another to see it....people living in miles and miles of what appears to be shelters put together with whatever they find...lots of people sleeping on the sidewalks - some with only the clothes they wore, some had a blanket, some sleeping on a small triangle of an island where 2 roads come together - cars racing by, horns honking, people walking or riding a bicycle...women alone, children alone...
Imagine our surprise when the bus stops and begins to back up into what looks like an alley in a 'neighborhood' like we had been seeing and it turns out to be our hotel...we were even more surprised when the hotel turned out to be very nice...what a contrast...
We finally made it to bed around 3:30 this morning and had to be up by 8:30 for breakfast...then we were off around 11:15 for an adventure...and since it is well after midnight and we have to be up for breakfast by 7 and loaded in the bus by 8...I'm going to have to continue whenever I can get on-line again...the jet lag hit me at dinner - it started hitting some this afternoon...
Thursday, December 17, 2009
December 17, 2009
We made it as far as Atlanta! Yea! All of us are very tired...we're at my friend's house waiting for our ride to the airport...Jennifer's working upstairs, Michael is trying to nap, and here I am...
Jennifer got in last night from Orlando - Michael opted to stay home while she and I went to Darrell Scott's concert - he really is amazing and he had 3 other guys with him who are also...they put on quite a show...you can check him out on utube or on his web site... (unfortunately, I did drop off to sleep for a short time - it certainly did not have anything to do with the music - just hadn't fully recovered from the 3 hrs of sleep 2 nights before when we arrived late and I had to take Jennifer to the airport early the next morning....) Jennifer helped out, so we stayed until the show was over - I had a chance to talk with Darrell after - we met last June when I was in Nashville, so that was nice... we finally got back and in bed after 1 am...the alarm went off at 4 and we were on the road by 5:30...fortunately, the weather is great and we had a beautiful sunrise to greet the day...I finally relaxed when we got off the freeway at the exit leading us here...we had made it with time to spare and now there is nothing else that we can do to change anything - the airport ride is scheduled, the what, where, when, who is all taken care of and all we have to do is enjoy the adventure that awaits....
Next stop....tomorrow morning in Amsterdam to change planes...then Mumbai at midnight on the 18th...
Jennifer got in last night from Orlando - Michael opted to stay home while she and I went to Darrell Scott's concert - he really is amazing and he had 3 other guys with him who are also...they put on quite a show...you can check him out on utube or on his web site... (unfortunately, I did drop off to sleep for a short time - it certainly did not have anything to do with the music - just hadn't fully recovered from the 3 hrs of sleep 2 nights before when we arrived late and I had to take Jennifer to the airport early the next morning....) Jennifer helped out, so we stayed until the show was over - I had a chance to talk with Darrell after - we met last June when I was in Nashville, so that was nice... we finally got back and in bed after 1 am...the alarm went off at 4 and we were on the road by 5:30...fortunately, the weather is great and we had a beautiful sunrise to greet the day...I finally relaxed when we got off the freeway at the exit leading us here...we had made it with time to spare and now there is nothing else that we can do to change anything - the airport ride is scheduled, the what, where, when, who is all taken care of and all we have to do is enjoy the adventure that awaits....
Next stop....tomorrow morning in Amsterdam to change planes...then Mumbai at midnight on the 18th...
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
December 16, 2009
We are freezing here in Nashville as we take care of last minute details. This trip has been in the planning for 2 years and we are down to the last day before the flight. Do we have all we need...do we need all we have...we can take some comfort in the idea that it really is too late to do much about it now...
Jennifer is in Orlando for work - we pick her up tonight, head to a concert of a friend, then home for a couple winks and up EARLY for the 4 hour drive to Atlanta to meet up with the friend who organized this adventure and get to the airport for the LONG flight...arrival in Mumbai midnight the 18th - don't ask me whose 18th - the US or India...think India is one day ahead, so am trying to figure out about medicines that have to be taken daily and the dosage changes on Sunday...hmmmm....speaking of meds...time to start the malaria med...
Will try and add thoughts as we go...
Jennifer is in Orlando for work - we pick her up tonight, head to a concert of a friend, then home for a couple winks and up EARLY for the 4 hour drive to Atlanta to meet up with the friend who organized this adventure and get to the airport for the LONG flight...arrival in Mumbai midnight the 18th - don't ask me whose 18th - the US or India...think India is one day ahead, so am trying to figure out about medicines that have to be taken daily and the dosage changes on Sunday...hmmmm....speaking of meds...time to start the malaria med...
Will try and add thoughts as we go...
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