It doesn't really count, but it looks cool to have "Bhutan!" in my blog...
Actually, I wanted to go in for the day, but they stopped the free day pass thingie from Jaigon (India) to Phuntsoling (Bhutan).
I had to use 25% of my Ninja skillz to talk them into letting Sarah and I in for just two hours. Even though I didn't get a nice beautiful stamp in my passport, I was still happy.
We wandered around, took a few pictures (that had an address in Bhutan visible, yeah, to show off), had a chai, a conversation with a local and got some currancy. We were only there for about an hour when I thought it would be a good idea to check a local market. We walked through a little gate with some guards minding there own business (we didn't really notice them) and checked the place out. After a few minutes, we continued in the same direction and we both started noticing the signs on the stores. They had Indian addresses! We came to the conclusion that we must have somehow left Bhutan, with out even knowing it!! Never seen a boarder like that in my life!
Anyway, we went back to the REAL boarder crossing and told the immigration dude that we wanted to go back through, since we did have half an hour left (he said we could stay for 2 hours). He had our passports in his hands and gave us a stressed out "NO"! Guess he wasn't to happy about us passing his guards unnoticed. Does that mean that we were kicked out of Bhutan? Patting myself on the back...
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
It's been a while (boring)
Where do I start? We've (Sarah and I) covered a lot of ground since then. I'll quickly run off a bunch of names (of places we've been since), but no details or I'd be here all day (OK, maybe a few).
We headed south from Hampi to Bangalore, did a pub crawl there with a few friends and ended up head banging at a metal bar (long funny story). Hey, it just ended up that way! Then Sarah convinced a rickshaw driver to let her take his rickshaw for a spin at 1AM, pissed!. We headed further south to Mysore (ass) after that. That's where we both had stool tests done, so romantic...
After that we headed to Ooty, a hill station, nice and cool, then to Kerela to do a back water (over night) cruise. I've got to mention that one a bit, only because it was one of the worst nights sleep I've had on this 15 month trip.
The daytime was great, nice and relaxing and beautiful. By the time he were ready to sleep though we realized that the tiny fan in our tiny room wasn't going to help much (it was VERY humid and pretty hot). Besides that, they would have to keep the boat running in order to power the fan (wasn't gonna happen). We decided (we thought we were the smartest people on earth, by the way) to put some mats on the upstairs deck, under the roof and hang Sarah's mosquito net. That way we'd catch a nice breeze all night and we wouldn't have to worry about mossies since we had a net. Brilliant!
Little did we know the mossies called their friends (some tiny little green bugs) and they came in force! When we decided to go to sleep, our sheets weren't there anymore. Instead there was just a layer of green! Honestly! There were 10's of thousands of those little Bastard-o's on our mats, the bugs were small enough to get through the net! Good thing Sarah was there, because she killed all of them by rolling a bottle back and forth over them. Murderer! Well, we didn't sleep at all that night, since we had to keep covered all night (which made it to hot to sleep) to avoid the bugs! See, you all think it's fun and games out here, but it's tough! ;-)
We decided we needed some R and R after that, so went back up to Palolem (spl?), Goa. That was nice and well... relaxing. We were on a mission after that though and took a looong train back into Rajasthan (again). We tore that state up, went to six different towns and then checked out the Taj (again). After a quick stop in Delhi, just long enough for a nice long bout of Delhi belly, we jumped over to Veranasi (again). That was great and we met up with an old friend (Jacques, who I'll be travelling through Pakistan, Iran and Turkey with later on) from the pushkar camel fair and another from our house in Goa. We even got to celebrate Shivatri there, a Bhang induced festival. Varanasi was already getting hot, so we sought refuge from the heat in the form of Darjeeling.
It was nice there, cool but cloudy. There supposed to have some of the best tea in the world there, but we couldn't find any. We arranged our permits for Sikkim from there and headed up there to do some trekking. It turned out the trekking route that we heard about was all on roads (no fun), so we scrapped that idea and took jeeps from town to town. We checked out Gangtok (the capital) and stayed there for three days do to the killer pizza and coffee. Sikkim was nice, although the clouds and the Indian government (won't let you go anywhere without an expensive permit) took away from it a bit. I'll have to go back some other time and do a real trek.
That's pretty much where I'm at now. Sarah took a train down to Mumbai two days ago and should be there today. She flies home on Monday. :-( I'm in Kolkata right now doing a boarder run to Bangladesh for a new visa, since my visa is about to run out on me. I've got a bad case of the backpacker blues though and I've been entertaining all ( 7 ) of my dorm mates, by singing them (I sound like Stevie Ray...).
I can't believe I've been in India for 6 months already! Koltata is actually much nicer than I expected and I''ve been walking a good 10 kilometers a day to check it out. The problem is that my already hammer shaped index toe (that's definitely not the right name for it) is now permanently touching my middle toe (must have broke it again recently?) and now I've got a nice fat blister in there. Nice and comfy!
Well, my sister Sara will be out here to join me in 11 days (I'm counting the days, can you tell I'm excited?). Hurry up Sara!
We headed south from Hampi to Bangalore, did a pub crawl there with a few friends and ended up head banging at a metal bar (long funny story). Hey, it just ended up that way! Then Sarah convinced a rickshaw driver to let her take his rickshaw for a spin at 1AM, pissed!. We headed further south to Mysore (ass) after that. That's where we both had stool tests done, so romantic...
After that we headed to Ooty, a hill station, nice and cool, then to Kerela to do a back water (over night) cruise. I've got to mention that one a bit, only because it was one of the worst nights sleep I've had on this 15 month trip.
The daytime was great, nice and relaxing and beautiful. By the time he were ready to sleep though we realized that the tiny fan in our tiny room wasn't going to help much (it was VERY humid and pretty hot). Besides that, they would have to keep the boat running in order to power the fan (wasn't gonna happen). We decided (we thought we were the smartest people on earth, by the way) to put some mats on the upstairs deck, under the roof and hang Sarah's mosquito net. That way we'd catch a nice breeze all night and we wouldn't have to worry about mossies since we had a net. Brilliant!
Little did we know the mossies called their friends (some tiny little green bugs) and they came in force! When we decided to go to sleep, our sheets weren't there anymore. Instead there was just a layer of green! Honestly! There were 10's of thousands of those little Bastard-o's on our mats, the bugs were small enough to get through the net! Good thing Sarah was there, because she killed all of them by rolling a bottle back and forth over them. Murderer! Well, we didn't sleep at all that night, since we had to keep covered all night (which made it to hot to sleep) to avoid the bugs! See, you all think it's fun and games out here, but it's tough! ;-)
We decided we needed some R and R after that, so went back up to Palolem (spl?), Goa. That was nice and well... relaxing. We were on a mission after that though and took a looong train back into Rajasthan (again). We tore that state up, went to six different towns and then checked out the Taj (again). After a quick stop in Delhi, just long enough for a nice long bout of Delhi belly, we jumped over to Veranasi (again). That was great and we met up with an old friend (Jacques, who I'll be travelling through Pakistan, Iran and Turkey with later on) from the pushkar camel fair and another from our house in Goa. We even got to celebrate Shivatri there, a Bhang induced festival. Varanasi was already getting hot, so we sought refuge from the heat in the form of Darjeeling.
It was nice there, cool but cloudy. There supposed to have some of the best tea in the world there, but we couldn't find any. We arranged our permits for Sikkim from there and headed up there to do some trekking. It turned out the trekking route that we heard about was all on roads (no fun), so we scrapped that idea and took jeeps from town to town. We checked out Gangtok (the capital) and stayed there for three days do to the killer pizza and coffee. Sikkim was nice, although the clouds and the Indian government (won't let you go anywhere without an expensive permit) took away from it a bit. I'll have to go back some other time and do a real trek.
That's pretty much where I'm at now. Sarah took a train down to Mumbai two days ago and should be there today. She flies home on Monday. :-( I'm in Kolkata right now doing a boarder run to Bangladesh for a new visa, since my visa is about to run out on me. I've got a bad case of the backpacker blues though and I've been entertaining all ( 7 ) of my dorm mates, by singing them (I sound like Stevie Ray...).
I can't believe I've been in India for 6 months already! Koltata is actually much nicer than I expected and I''ve been walking a good 10 kilometers a day to check it out. The problem is that my already hammer shaped index toe (that's definitely not the right name for it) is now permanently touching my middle toe (must have broke it again recently?) and now I've got a nice fat blister in there. Nice and comfy!
Well, my sister Sara will be out here to join me in 11 days (I'm counting the days, can you tell I'm excited?). Hurry up Sara!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Lost and found
It's been a while, but it's been good! 2004 was the best year ever and my New Years resolution is to have a better year this year than last! I must say 2005 is gonna be tough to beat!
After a year on the road, I've lost some things and found some. I didn't come out here (my trip) looking for love or any answers to life, but it turns out that I've found a bit of both. The things I've lost were great, but I wouldn't trade one of the things I've found for all of the lost!
Here they are...
Things I've lost -
MY pickup truck, my job, my home, a few thousand dollars, a stable, safe, easy, predictable life, about seven inches of hair (thanks to a Tibetan lady I stayed with in Dharamsala), the fear of REALLY living, a few pounds (didn't know I had any weight to loose), health, a few more brain cells, a semi-normal life and um, well, can't think of anything else off the top of my head!
Things I've found -
Total freedom, complete happiness, adventure, confidence, self reliance, faith in humanity, the beauty of the world, liberation, and my soul mate (a soul you were ment to find, no matter what. Man or Woman.)!
The last one is the best and least expected! I met her (Sarah) in Pushkar for the camel fair, but we didn't realize we were soul mates till the "Pushkar family" had a re-union in Goa for New Years! We've been travelling India together for a while now and now I'm really wondering if life can get any better? I plan on finding out, that's gonna be fun! No matter what happens between us, it was ment to be.
Anyway, this New Year was lots of fun! We were partying in Goa (vagator) till way after the sun came up! Vagator sucked, but our "family" made it great! After that we headed to a nice and quiet beach, but still lots of fun, in Arambal (also Goa). We stayed there for about a week and decided that if we didn't start moving soon, we might never, so we headed inland to Hampi.
Hampi is an ancient (ruined) city, with temples and caves scattered everywhere! The landscape looks just like the Flintstones, but with banana plantations and rivers for contrast. Huge boulders stacked impossibly on top of each other, as far as the eye can see! Everyone wonders how the rocks ended up like that and the Hindu's have the answer. They say Hanuman (the monkey god), as a show of strength, went off and started dropping gigantic rocks from the sky (he can fly) till he felt better about himself and that's how Bedrock came to be. Bet you didn't know that! ;-) Every now and then you'll seen rice patty's or banana plantations with a big old temple shooting straight up, kinda like the jungle book teaming up with the Flintstones! Killer! Hampi was great! We killed about a week there as well and got the same quicksand feeling, so we knew we had to start moving again, or else!
We've been taking local buses everywhere to save $ and we're finally in a proper city, Bangalore. We're trying to meet the last remains of the " Pushkar family" here for an out of control pub crawl. Bangalore is an expensive city, but they actually have a bit of a pub culture here, unlike anywhere else in India. It's gonna be fun, hope I can remember it, if so I'll let you all know how it went.
Enjoy 2005! Make it a ridiculously good year! I honestly can't say when I'll be home, but I'll be enjoying myself...
After a year on the road, I've lost some things and found some. I didn't come out here (my trip) looking for love or any answers to life, but it turns out that I've found a bit of both. The things I've lost were great, but I wouldn't trade one of the things I've found for all of the lost!
Here they are...
Things I've lost -
MY pickup truck, my job, my home, a few thousand dollars, a stable, safe, easy, predictable life, about seven inches of hair (thanks to a Tibetan lady I stayed with in Dharamsala), the fear of REALLY living, a few pounds (didn't know I had any weight to loose), health, a few more brain cells, a semi-normal life and um, well, can't think of anything else off the top of my head!
Things I've found -
Total freedom, complete happiness, adventure, confidence, self reliance, faith in humanity, the beauty of the world, liberation, and my soul mate (a soul you were ment to find, no matter what. Man or Woman.)!
The last one is the best and least expected! I met her (Sarah) in Pushkar for the camel fair, but we didn't realize we were soul mates till the "Pushkar family" had a re-union in Goa for New Years! We've been travelling India together for a while now and now I'm really wondering if life can get any better? I plan on finding out, that's gonna be fun! No matter what happens between us, it was ment to be.
Anyway, this New Year was lots of fun! We were partying in Goa (vagator) till way after the sun came up! Vagator sucked, but our "family" made it great! After that we headed to a nice and quiet beach, but still lots of fun, in Arambal (also Goa). We stayed there for about a week and decided that if we didn't start moving soon, we might never, so we headed inland to Hampi.
Hampi is an ancient (ruined) city, with temples and caves scattered everywhere! The landscape looks just like the Flintstones, but with banana plantations and rivers for contrast. Huge boulders stacked impossibly on top of each other, as far as the eye can see! Everyone wonders how the rocks ended up like that and the Hindu's have the answer. They say Hanuman (the monkey god), as a show of strength, went off and started dropping gigantic rocks from the sky (he can fly) till he felt better about himself and that's how Bedrock came to be. Bet you didn't know that! ;-) Every now and then you'll seen rice patty's or banana plantations with a big old temple shooting straight up, kinda like the jungle book teaming up with the Flintstones! Killer! Hampi was great! We killed about a week there as well and got the same quicksand feeling, so we knew we had to start moving again, or else!
We've been taking local buses everywhere to save $ and we're finally in a proper city, Bangalore. We're trying to meet the last remains of the " Pushkar family" here for an out of control pub crawl. Bangalore is an expensive city, but they actually have a bit of a pub culture here, unlike anywhere else in India. It's gonna be fun, hope I can remember it, if so I'll let you all know how it went.
Enjoy 2005! Make it a ridiculously good year! I honestly can't say when I'll be home, but I'll be enjoying myself...
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Going to Goa
I'm in Varanasi right now, chillin with the Baba's and watching the body parts float down the Ganges. I met a couple of cool Ausi dudes and have been traveling with them for a while now. We're gonna split in a few days, they're heading to Chenai and I'm heading to the beach in Goa, my Pushkar friends have an apartment there and there is a spot on the roof with my name on it! That's gonna be nice!
I've been covering more ground than normal lately. I did a camel safari (yeah, yeah, I'm a tourist) in Jaisalmer and that was sweet! The town of Jaisalmer its self is killer! It's an old fort with walls still surrounding it and 2,000 people still inhabiting it. The travelers get to stay inside and it's a unique feeling sleeping in such a mid-evil place!
My guide on the camel safari was a little fruity though. On the second day he was bragging and bragging and asked me if I was jealous of him. I said hell no, not at all, and I guess he was offended. He ended up telling me that he can get anyone into bed with him (man or woman), all he needs to do is speak and there is "something about my voice that no one can resist!" I assured him that my three Aussi friends wouldn't let me jump into bed with him and tried for a few more minutes to sample his bullshit. Soon after that he told me (out of the blue) that if he and I were to fight each other (?), "I may think I would win, because I'm bigger, but in reality, all he would need to do is flick me with his finger and I would fall (unconscious) into the fire!" Of course I begged for a sample of that B.S. as well, but he said there is a risk of me dieing! Okay!!!! I think I've said enough! =)
Anyway, I hit up Jodhpur (the blue city) after that and the view of the old, blue city from the top of yet another fort was sweet! Every home and building (almost all) in the old section of the city is painted blue, pretty cool and different. The fort in Jodhpur was also the coolest that I've seen yet! From Jodhpur I headed back to Pushkar to leave my cold weather stuff at the killer GH (Nanu's) I was staying at for the camel fair. It was cool to be there again, but not the same without all my friends.
I stayed only one night and took a bus to Jaipur in the morning, most people go there to buy wholesale junk to sell back home. I wandered around though, ate some meat (pretty hard to come by here), sat down and drank chai and talked to some random people. One of which was a taxi driver who approached me by saying " hello, I look like John Travolta!" Woohoo! It's impossible to get bored in India. Jaipur wasn't for me, so I headed to a couple of National Parks trying to spot some tigers, but no such luck. After the National parks it was Taj time and it was b-e-a-utiful, but expensive! Agra was great, I had too much fun on the roof tops drinking beer (also pretty rare in some city's) and bang Lassie's with my Aussie friends.
We kicked back in Orcha after Agra, a killer little village (shanti-shanti) with an old palace and ruins scattered around. There happened to be a festival there (Orcha) at that time, I think Rama got married to Sita there and every year they re-enact the whole thing. People from all the villages around come to watch and participate (just walk in the narrow streets following the 3 gods leading the whole thing) in the festival and then they all just sleep on the ground outside Rama's temple while some old dude is yelling and preaching all night till 6 in the morning! Really cool and perfect timing fore us.
Then we jumped to Khajuraho, the erotic temples... and some were erotic! Cool place, but very touristy. Finally we took a shitty bus ride here, Varanasi. For some reason Varanasi reminds me of Kathmandu a bit??
Oh, and just so you all know, a "holy cow" just wandered into this internet cafe...what? I must admit that I've been in denial since I've been in India. I see sidewalks in most towns, and for some stupid reason I think they're meant to walk on? I'm finally coming to terms with the fact that sidewalks are for everything but walking on! Stupid me! Oh, and another thing, I've been really nervous (the last two days) lately, I think I've eaten 7 or 8 meals in a row without a hair or bug in it, somethings gotta give! Anyway, India is the most schizophrenic country that I've been to. You're ready to flip out on some touts one minute, but then you swear this is the coolest country on earth the next! Pigs, cows, dogs, monkeys, rats and chickens all over the streets, along with enough trash to feed them all and then some! This place is crazy, perfect for me and all that (plus a lot, lot more) is just normal life here...
Anyway, I finally got train tickets to Goa from here, that was a mission! I'm leaving here on the 24th, arrive in Mubai on the 25th, depart for Goa at 11 at night (on the 25th) and arrive in Goa on the 26th, in time for the full moon party and the New Year! So, I know I'll be enjoying myself for the next couple of weeks, I hope you all do the same! I can't believe I've been gone for almost one year already! Life's to short, if there is something you want to do, go out and do it! WE are usually the only one's stopping us from doing what we truly want! Well, I'm outta here, more bang Lassie's to drink! ;-)
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Pushkar camel fair
I'm at the Pushkar camel festival right now. Today is the last day, but there is another festival that begins today as well. Something about Brahman (the creator) coming to the lake in the center of town and calling all 900,000 Hindu gods, deity's and manifestations for a fat Hindu party? 
Pushkar is great! It's touristy, but it doesn't matter. It's literally an oasis and is just like being in the movie Aladdin! The camel festival was amazing too. The biggest livestock market in the world! 10's of thousands of camels, horses and cattle. Wild nomads with the huge mustaches and turbins, decorated camels and horses all over the place and best of all, beautiful Gypsies! The A-rab blood in me was stoked! =) I was getting to know a BEAUTIFUL Gypsy girl here and part of me wanted to live out in the wild like all these Rajasthanies (I never considered it though), but she's a TRUE gypsie and she lives in a crazy world that only a Gypsy can deal with!
The people are great here though. I've been invited to so many camp sites (at the fair grounds) and the people truly are wild! I was invited to one family's camp and offered some chai (tea), so I said sure. The old mother got up, chased a goat and started milking it right there, then she threw it (the milk and tea) on the fire and I had the freshest cup of chai yet! Pretty funny!
I did a little volunteer work here at "The Joshua Project", mostly playing with the kids (beggars). I also did some volunteer work in Daramsala (with LHA) teaching Tibetan refugees English and just playing with the children as well. The kids are amazing! The stories of what they've already dealt with at such a young age and how they handle it all and continue on is just incredible!
Anyway, I've found a killer G.H. here and I'm sleeping in a tent on the roof for 20 RS per night (45 = 1 dolla). I've met a bunch of really cool people and some good friends. We've been keeping busy the last few days with "The Pushkar Super Special Mascot Photo Competition"!
There are "Super Special" people here, they live on the streets or dress or behave like total fruit loops! Every time I meet someone new (travelers) one of the "Super Special People" finds their way into the conversation, so we (me and my friends talking around our campfire) came up with a "mission" that we must accomplish! Whoever gets pictures of all six chosen super special Pushkar mascots first, with out paying baksheesh (a donation that everyone in India asks for,spl?), wins! We don't know what the prize is yet, but we think it's a cigarette or something really expensive like that. Just so you know who the "SSPM's" are (I know you're all very interested) I'll give you there titles -
The six legged cow - Has two extra legs growing off of it's back!
Umbrella head - Sits on a skateboard looking thingie and has huge sun glasses, and a huge clock around his neck and a beautiful umbrella tied to his head!
T-shirt man - My favorite, always walks around with the bottom of his shirt in his hands, revealing his stomach! When he smokes a beedee (tobacco rolls) he holds both sides (right bottom and left bottom, front of shirt) with one hand and smokes with the other. The best!
Thong man - About two and a half feet tall, naked except for a thong made from cloth and holding a HUGE umbrella! Dead sexy!
Happy man - Haven't seen him yet, but supposedly he walks around with a big smile and is clapping all the time!
Star wars man - It's a long story!
Anyway, I've got a competition to win and some overdosing on chai...
Pushkar is great! It's touristy, but it doesn't matter. It's literally an oasis and is just like being in the movie Aladdin! The camel festival was amazing too. The biggest livestock market in the world! 10's of thousands of camels, horses and cattle. Wild nomads with the huge mustaches and turbins, decorated camels and horses all over the place and best of all, beautiful Gypsies! The A-rab blood in me was stoked! =) I was getting to know a BEAUTIFUL Gypsy girl here and part of me wanted to live out in the wild like all these Rajasthanies (I never considered it though), but she's a TRUE gypsie and she lives in a crazy world that only a Gypsy can deal with!
The people are great here though. I've been invited to so many camp sites (at the fair grounds) and the people truly are wild! I was invited to one family's camp and offered some chai (tea), so I said sure. The old mother got up, chased a goat and started milking it right there, then she threw it (the milk and tea) on the fire and I had the freshest cup of chai yet! Pretty funny!
I did a little volunteer work here at "The Joshua Project", mostly playing with the kids (beggars). I also did some volunteer work in Daramsala (with LHA) teaching Tibetan refugees English and just playing with the children as well. The kids are amazing! The stories of what they've already dealt with at such a young age and how they handle it all and continue on is just incredible!
Anyway, I've found a killer G.H. here and I'm sleeping in a tent on the roof for 20 RS per night (45 = 1 dolla). I've met a bunch of really cool people and some good friends. We've been keeping busy the last few days with "The Pushkar Super Special Mascot Photo Competition"!
There are "Super Special" people here, they live on the streets or dress or behave like total fruit loops! Every time I meet someone new (travelers) one of the "Super Special People" finds their way into the conversation, so we (me and my friends talking around our campfire) came up with a "mission" that we must accomplish! Whoever gets pictures of all six chosen super special Pushkar mascots first, with out paying baksheesh (a donation that everyone in India asks for,spl?), wins! We don't know what the prize is yet, but we think it's a cigarette or something really expensive like that. Just so you know who the "SSPM's" are (I know you're all very interested) I'll give you there titles -
The six legged cow - Has two extra legs growing off of it's back!
Umbrella head - Sits on a skateboard looking thingie and has huge sun glasses, and a huge clock around his neck and a beautiful umbrella tied to his head!
T-shirt man - My favorite, always walks around with the bottom of his shirt in his hands, revealing his stomach! When he smokes a beedee (tobacco rolls) he holds both sides (right bottom and left bottom, front of shirt) with one hand and smokes with the other. The best!
Thong man - About two and a half feet tall, naked except for a thong made from cloth and holding a HUGE umbrella! Dead sexy!
Happy man - Haven't seen him yet, but supposedly he walks around with a big smile and is clapping all the time!
Star wars man - It's a long story!
Anyway, I've got a competition to win and some overdosing on chai...
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Got worms...
...I do!
Nice, huh? I had a bad stomach in Delhi (Delhi belly) and had a test done by a doctor there, he told me I have worms! SWEET! I love worms! Anyway, I just have to take a pill twice a day for two days and I'll be de-wormed. I figured I'd share this appetizing news with you all, because I now you're all interested in that type of thing.
Anyway, I'm in Rishikesh right now. It's a center for Hindu pilgrims, but now westerners come here to "seek enlightenment", not why I'm here by the way. I'm on my way to the north (Manali), to chill out in the mountains and maybe do some more trekking in a different part of the Himalaya's.
India's cool so far though and not nearly as hard (to travel in) as I expected. The accommodation is more expensive then Nepal, but the food is ridiculously cheap and good! 50 cents for pretty much all you can eat rice, curry's, chapati's (flat round bread), dahl (lentils) and curd (yogurt)! I've been eating for more that one all of this time (the worms), so I guess I've been doing some damage to the kitchens! OK, I'm outta here, I'm gonna eat with an unfair advantage while I still have worms! I'm gonna miss those things!
Nice, huh? I had a bad stomach in Delhi (Delhi belly) and had a test done by a doctor there, he told me I have worms! SWEET! I love worms! Anyway, I just have to take a pill twice a day for two days and I'll be de-wormed. I figured I'd share this appetizing news with you all, because I now you're all interested in that type of thing.
Anyway, I'm in Rishikesh right now. It's a center for Hindu pilgrims, but now westerners come here to "seek enlightenment", not why I'm here by the way. I'm on my way to the north (Manali), to chill out in the mountains and maybe do some more trekking in a different part of the Himalaya's.
India's cool so far though and not nearly as hard (to travel in) as I expected. The accommodation is more expensive then Nepal, but the food is ridiculously cheap and good! 50 cents for pretty much all you can eat rice, curry's, chapati's (flat round bread), dahl (lentils) and curd (yogurt)! I've been eating for more that one all of this time (the worms), so I guess I've been doing some damage to the kitchens! OK, I'm outta here, I'm gonna eat with an unfair advantage while I still have worms! I'm gonna miss those things!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Mother India
Well, I'm not in Nepal anymore...
I planned on extending my visa for the last time in Pokhara, since I'd been in KTM for so long and there are many more tourists there than before. I was going to extend it on the last day possible, because why do today what you can put off till tomorrow? Pokhara is that mellow. Anyway, I broke down and did the responsible thing and went to the immigration office sooner than later.
I had tried to extend it (my visa) in KTM, but they told me I needed my India visa first (since I was going there next) and a bus or plane ticket out of the country. If I bought a ticket to show immigration in KTM, then I would have to go back there (6 -14 hours) to catch the bus to India, which is just extra (bus) time and money. Apparently it's much more difficult to extend your last visa (after 120 days), so I grabbed my Indian visa and took a bus to Pokhara.
When I got to the Pokhara immigration office, they (3 people) were just staring at my passport for a while, finally they told me I had been there (Nepal) for 120 days. I said "yup" and they told me I have to have a bus/plane ticket out of the country, so I showed them my ticket that I bought that morning. They all stared at that for awhile, then they told me that I had been in the country for 120 days, and I said "very good, is there a problem"? They finally let me know that your last visa can only be extended in KTM. So, I took a deep breath and asked if someone could help me solve this problem. They said "oh yes, we'll send someone by taxi to KTM and they'll do everything for you." I asked how much that would cost and they said 3,000 RS (about $50), plus the cost of extension ($30)! So, I told them "shit, I really love Nepal, but I guess I'm going to India in two days!" This is what did it for me, they told me (really calm and the guy took an extra step, so I could smell the Dal Baht on his breath) sir, you already have a ticket for Nov 17th, either you HAVE to go to KTM and the office will be closed when you get there (festival), or you send one of OUR employees. I've learned a lot about myself on this trip, one of the things I'm realizing is that when I'm cornered I become very illogical (super un-Spock like) and quite stubborn! I ended up telling them "no, I don't HAVE to do either and if I need to buy a new ticket to India then that's fine with me."
When I walked out of there, I was asking myself what the hell I just did that for? I love Nepal and Pokhara and it's perfect trekking weather, the best two months of the year. Oh well, guess I'm going to India in two days, I told my friend Pete (from England). I had to repair for India as best I could on two days notice, so I did what any hardened, experienced traveler would do, I ate all the things that I might not find in India! One of those things got me sick and I was hoping it wouldn't last till my bus ride the next day!
Woohoo!
I took the bus to the boarder puking out the window, a very enjoyable way to see the country side. The whole row of people behind me were re-examining there breakfast as well. When your head is hanging out the window of a nasty Nepali bus and you have chunks coming out of your nose and mouth, you see the country from a different point of view. Anyway, the last two hours were ok. I got to the boarder and had to find the hotel that had my ticket to Gorakpur, the next town in India. Oh, I didn't have to buy a new ticket, but I had couldn't cancel, I could only change the times and dates(would have saved money if I could have canceled and done it all as I went).
I found the hotel at the boarder and some scumbags told me that the bus was late and it would stop in front of the hotel. I had a bad feeling (which I pay attention to much more on this trip), but I did just empty my stomach and my legs weren't under me yet. I ended up waiting there and then they asked if I wanted to change money, luckily I changed some in Pokhara, so I knew the rate. I asked the rate and commission and agreed to change 10,000 Nepali RS, I had a nice round number in my pocket just for this reason. They tried to short me 1,000 Indian Rupees, so I got up grabbed my money, which they wouldn't let go of. I stopped and looked at the scumbags with the eyes of a man who had just puked all morning and has nothing left to loose and told them "don't make me do this". I was surprised at how pissed I was! I didn't need to say another word, they handed it to me and I put on my backpack and walked out. I found the bus about a minute later and the owner came to me and apologized. He asked if he could change money for me since I wouldn't be able to do it in the next town. 1.6 Nepali = 1 Indian, so I gave him 10,000 Nepali for 5,900 Indian including commission. Just as the bus was ready to leave, the scumbags came on and told me that I owe each of them 50 RS (Indian). I told them that I'm not giving them one RS and if I have to get off of this bus, they'll both need enough money for a hospital, so do the math. They told me to get off, I said OK, I put on my backpack and they ran out. That was that, and lucky too, because I would have been in trouble with my big backpack attached to me!
Anywho, I spent the rest of the night in the train station buying my ticket to Delhi for the next day at 5:00 pm, before I found a hotel (a real shit hole)! I slept maybe two hours that night due to some unwanted company... Rats and Cockroaches! The Cockroaches were all over my bed (they were the BIG one's that fly too), but at least the rats stayed off. They (rats) were busy trying to get into my backpack, so I had to grab my pillow and start swinging, so that I could try to hang my pack up somewhere with out getting bit! That was a loooong night and I slept with the light on! The next day the neighbors were looking at me really weird. They heard me cursing at the cockroaches before I would kill them and then laugh out loud at it and ask it's friends why they are running away! I'm a fruit-loop!
I just arrived in Delhi this morning and it really isn't as bad as I was expecting. It's madness, but there is enough to do here, so I guess I'll stay a couple of days. I just wanted to let everyone know where I'm at. I'll be heading to the north soon... I think.
I planned on extending my visa for the last time in Pokhara, since I'd been in KTM for so long and there are many more tourists there than before. I was going to extend it on the last day possible, because why do today what you can put off till tomorrow? Pokhara is that mellow. Anyway, I broke down and did the responsible thing and went to the immigration office sooner than later.
I had tried to extend it (my visa) in KTM, but they told me I needed my India visa first (since I was going there next) and a bus or plane ticket out of the country. If I bought a ticket to show immigration in KTM, then I would have to go back there (6 -14 hours) to catch the bus to India, which is just extra (bus) time and money. Apparently it's much more difficult to extend your last visa (after 120 days), so I grabbed my Indian visa and took a bus to Pokhara.
When I got to the Pokhara immigration office, they (3 people) were just staring at my passport for a while, finally they told me I had been there (Nepal) for 120 days. I said "yup" and they told me I have to have a bus/plane ticket out of the country, so I showed them my ticket that I bought that morning. They all stared at that for awhile, then they told me that I had been in the country for 120 days, and I said "very good, is there a problem"? They finally let me know that your last visa can only be extended in KTM. So, I took a deep breath and asked if someone could help me solve this problem. They said "oh yes, we'll send someone by taxi to KTM and they'll do everything for you." I asked how much that would cost and they said 3,000 RS (about $50), plus the cost of extension ($30)! So, I told them "shit, I really love Nepal, but I guess I'm going to India in two days!" This is what did it for me, they told me (really calm and the guy took an extra step, so I could smell the Dal Baht on his breath) sir, you already have a ticket for Nov 17th, either you HAVE to go to KTM and the office will be closed when you get there (festival), or you send one of OUR employees. I've learned a lot about myself on this trip, one of the things I'm realizing is that when I'm cornered I become very illogical (super un-Spock like) and quite stubborn! I ended up telling them "no, I don't HAVE to do either and if I need to buy a new ticket to India then that's fine with me."
When I walked out of there, I was asking myself what the hell I just did that for? I love Nepal and Pokhara and it's perfect trekking weather, the best two months of the year. Oh well, guess I'm going to India in two days, I told my friend Pete (from England). I had to repair for India as best I could on two days notice, so I did what any hardened, experienced traveler would do, I ate all the things that I might not find in India! One of those things got me sick and I was hoping it wouldn't last till my bus ride the next day!
Woohoo!
I took the bus to the boarder puking out the window, a very enjoyable way to see the country side. The whole row of people behind me were re-examining there breakfast as well. When your head is hanging out the window of a nasty Nepali bus and you have chunks coming out of your nose and mouth, you see the country from a different point of view. Anyway, the last two hours were ok. I got to the boarder and had to find the hotel that had my ticket to Gorakpur, the next town in India. Oh, I didn't have to buy a new ticket, but I had couldn't cancel, I could only change the times and dates(would have saved money if I could have canceled and done it all as I went).
I found the hotel at the boarder and some scumbags told me that the bus was late and it would stop in front of the hotel. I had a bad feeling (which I pay attention to much more on this trip), but I did just empty my stomach and my legs weren't under me yet. I ended up waiting there and then they asked if I wanted to change money, luckily I changed some in Pokhara, so I knew the rate. I asked the rate and commission and agreed to change 10,000 Nepali RS, I had a nice round number in my pocket just for this reason. They tried to short me 1,000 Indian Rupees, so I got up grabbed my money, which they wouldn't let go of. I stopped and looked at the scumbags with the eyes of a man who had just puked all morning and has nothing left to loose and told them "don't make me do this". I was surprised at how pissed I was! I didn't need to say another word, they handed it to me and I put on my backpack and walked out. I found the bus about a minute later and the owner came to me and apologized. He asked if he could change money for me since I wouldn't be able to do it in the next town. 1.6 Nepali = 1 Indian, so I gave him 10,000 Nepali for 5,900 Indian including commission. Just as the bus was ready to leave, the scumbags came on and told me that I owe each of them 50 RS (Indian). I told them that I'm not giving them one RS and if I have to get off of this bus, they'll both need enough money for a hospital, so do the math. They told me to get off, I said OK, I put on my backpack and they ran out. That was that, and lucky too, because I would have been in trouble with my big backpack attached to me!
Anywho, I spent the rest of the night in the train station buying my ticket to Delhi for the next day at 5:00 pm, before I found a hotel (a real shit hole)! I slept maybe two hours that night due to some unwanted company... Rats and Cockroaches! The Cockroaches were all over my bed (they were the BIG one's that fly too), but at least the rats stayed off. They (rats) were busy trying to get into my backpack, so I had to grab my pillow and start swinging, so that I could try to hang my pack up somewhere with out getting bit! That was a loooong night and I slept with the light on! The next day the neighbors were looking at me really weird. They heard me cursing at the cockroaches before I would kill them and then laugh out loud at it and ask it's friends why they are running away! I'm a fruit-loop!
I just arrived in Delhi this morning and it really isn't as bad as I was expecting. It's madness, but there is enough to do here, so I guess I'll stay a couple of days. I just wanted to let everyone know where I'm at. I'll be heading to the north soon... I think.
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