Darjeeling is unlike any place I have ever seen. The rolling hills, the beautiful view of the himalayas; we are at the same height as the clouds. There is a peacefullness about the people here- they smile, sing and take life as it comes, mostly due to the strong buddhist influence. Dogs roam freely here as they did in Kolkata, but rather than being skin and bones they all look fat and well taken care of. The ponies here are much the same way, but passing by the stable I was surprised to see a sorrell pony eating a breakfast of green vegtables and slices of bread. We spent a rainy afternoon at the botanical gardens where we saw giant wisteria vines that were over 128 years old, along with a greenhouse filled with rare orchids and plants. Went to check out the missionaries of charity here, but although they said they would have work for us, upon arrival we had little to do there. Clipping fingernails and spending time with the patients (all were mentally handicapped in some way) was how we spent Wednesday morning, and again we felt discouraged. We are still certain that we are intended to be here but are still waiting for God's plans to reveal themselves.
On a brighter note Brandon and I went to the zoo yesterday where we saw bears, tigers, wolves and red pandas. The zoo was impressive and is known to be the best in the country. Currently we are in the middle of the Duwali festival which is a five day hindu holiday known as the festival of lights. Similar to christmas people light candles, hang lights and give gifts. The past few days have been one crazy street party with small children lighting giant firecrackers in the street from 6 at night to 7 in the morning- sounds like a gun battle is going on outside of our hotel room. We plan on leaving for Nepal in a few days.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
darjeeling
we made it. sorry it took so long to post/update.
the train ride was an experience in itself. we got the nicest class (2AC). meaning there were two levels of beds, and it was airconditioned. the train left at 1:35pm, and we were not to arrive until 3am the next day. 14 hours on a train. wooo hooo! once we got to DJP (the tainstation) it was still another 2 hours by jeep to darjeeling. they are scheduled to leave until 6, but we found someone willing to take us, who hooked us up with another "press" jeep (it delivered newspapers) that was leaving soon. it was a total change coming from the overcrowded and polluted city to the foothills of the himalayas. the drive of was full of switchbacks (we climbed over 1000m in about 40miles) and was beautiful.
darjeeling is a small mountain town (slightly warm in the morning and cools off at night). it is also very friendly (another opposite to kolkata). we found a good room that was much bigger and cleaner than what we had before(with hot water. cydney was pleased), and it even has a nice view of the himalayas. then we went and ate at a cafe that served "filtered" water. well, turns out "filtered" wasnt good enough. i drank more of the water than cydney, but later that day i started to feel it. so, the past couple of days i have been experiencing what they call "delhi belly". it could be worse, and for the most part i am better now. cydneys only lasted a little more than a day. we have been doing a little exploring, found some good places to eat, walked alot (everything here is either up or downhill. it will be good exercise), and found the tibetian refugee self help center. there is also a missionaries of charity here, so are next step will be to get into contact with them.
we are missing home, and its not even been two weeks.
we love all of you
brandon and cydney
the train ride was an experience in itself. we got the nicest class (2AC). meaning there were two levels of beds, and it was airconditioned. the train left at 1:35pm, and we were not to arrive until 3am the next day. 14 hours on a train. wooo hooo! once we got to DJP (the tainstation) it was still another 2 hours by jeep to darjeeling. they are scheduled to leave until 6, but we found someone willing to take us, who hooked us up with another "press" jeep (it delivered newspapers) that was leaving soon. it was a total change coming from the overcrowded and polluted city to the foothills of the himalayas. the drive of was full of switchbacks (we climbed over 1000m in about 40miles) and was beautiful.
darjeeling is a small mountain town (slightly warm in the morning and cools off at night). it is also very friendly (another opposite to kolkata). we found a good room that was much bigger and cleaner than what we had before(with hot water. cydney was pleased), and it even has a nice view of the himalayas. then we went and ate at a cafe that served "filtered" water. well, turns out "filtered" wasnt good enough. i drank more of the water than cydney, but later that day i started to feel it. so, the past couple of days i have been experiencing what they call "delhi belly". it could be worse, and for the most part i am better now. cydneys only lasted a little more than a day. we have been doing a little exploring, found some good places to eat, walked alot (everything here is either up or downhill. it will be good exercise), and found the tibetian refugee self help center. there is also a missionaries of charity here, so are next step will be to get into contact with them.
we are missing home, and its not even been two weeks.
we love all of you
brandon and cydney
Monday, October 20, 2008
Hindu Temple
Spent the day sightseeing yesterday and went to the Kali Temple on the other side of the city. We were greeted by a Brahman priest who instructed us to take our shoes off and follow him. He gave us flowers, incense and painted our foreheads with orange dots. The whole process was really strange. To our great fortune we had missed the morning goat sacrifices where each person brings a goat to offer to the god. I (cydney) was not thrilled to be in this temple with no shoes or socks and sanitized my feet with hand sanitizer (I'm wishing we had brought the big bottle) After the temple we went to the contemporary art museum and were amazed at the work they had there. Today we leave for Darjeeling and I cannot wait to get away from the pollution. Supposedly it is twice the level of world emission regulations. We will write again soon.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
krazy kolkata
this is one crazy city. it is unlike any place we have ever been before. uganda was poor, but it mas more rural and hopeful. brazil had its poor and rich, but there was a somewhat of a division between the two. kolkata has the poorest of the poor thrown in right next to the rich. it is all thrown on top of each other and scrabbled up. we knew this to a degree before we left, but it is nothing like seeing it up close. and it is actually quite disturbing.
we went and "registered" with the missionaries of charity, which meant getting details on where to go and what to do. the mother house, where everyone meets for mass and breakfast, is about a 25min walk. so, the first day we wanted to go check out mass (1st time for both of us). we left at 5:30am. mass was from 6 to 7. way different than mosaic or fbc. breakfast (tea, bread, and bananas) was from 7 to7:30. then leave to get to our chosen locations by 8. for us, that meant catching the 202 bus. an indian bus is not your typical bus. the inside has wooden floors and benches, some of which are for women only. guys and girls dont sit together. its about a 20min ride, then 5min walk across the bridge we just came across (its probably better it wont stop of the bridge). we chose to work at a large facility (200men, 200 women that are separated) for the disabled and mentally ill. our duties started with doing laundry, by hand (just imagine the load for about 400), then the guys washed the outside patios and walked ways, the girls took the laundry to the roof to dry, then we interacted with the patients. doing things like shaving, massaging, and just talking to and touching people. everyone seems really grateful. then we serve them lunch and do the dishes. then we leave at 12:15pm by taking an auto rickshaw. which is an experience in itself. since we were with big group of white people they did their best to fit as many as possible into this 4 man vehicle. we had 7, one of which was a relatively large sicilian. then we go barreling though the streets, never slowing down for anything, and just blaring the horn in something is in the way. while the whole time the driving is super proud of his large haul of foreigners. all this makes for a long morning that calls for a much needed nap. we have done this the past two days. it is not quite like what we were expecting. all the tasks, although they seem simple, are mentally toiling. and being in this city is doing the same as well. the chaotic streets, the pollution (which gives you black goo for buggers), the poverty on top of wealth, is weighing on us.
so, we are getting out of kolkata for now. tomorrow we will take a train up north to darjeeling. it is time for us to see other parts of this country before this one makes us go crazy. the train ride will take about 9 hours. putting us there wed at 3am (we are about 9 1/2 hours ahead of you guys). we should have internet there also, so as soon as we find it we will write again.
love,
brandon and cydney
we went and "registered" with the missionaries of charity, which meant getting details on where to go and what to do. the mother house, where everyone meets for mass and breakfast, is about a 25min walk. so, the first day we wanted to go check out mass (1st time for both of us). we left at 5:30am. mass was from 6 to 7. way different than mosaic or fbc. breakfast (tea, bread, and bananas) was from 7 to7:30. then leave to get to our chosen locations by 8. for us, that meant catching the 202 bus. an indian bus is not your typical bus. the inside has wooden floors and benches, some of which are for women only. guys and girls dont sit together. its about a 20min ride, then 5min walk across the bridge we just came across (its probably better it wont stop of the bridge). we chose to work at a large facility (200men, 200 women that are separated) for the disabled and mentally ill. our duties started with doing laundry, by hand (just imagine the load for about 400), then the guys washed the outside patios and walked ways, the girls took the laundry to the roof to dry, then we interacted with the patients. doing things like shaving, massaging, and just talking to and touching people. everyone seems really grateful. then we serve them lunch and do the dishes. then we leave at 12:15pm by taking an auto rickshaw. which is an experience in itself. since we were with big group of white people they did their best to fit as many as possible into this 4 man vehicle. we had 7, one of which was a relatively large sicilian. then we go barreling though the streets, never slowing down for anything, and just blaring the horn in something is in the way. while the whole time the driving is super proud of his large haul of foreigners. all this makes for a long morning that calls for a much needed nap. we have done this the past two days. it is not quite like what we were expecting. all the tasks, although they seem simple, are mentally toiling. and being in this city is doing the same as well. the chaotic streets, the pollution (which gives you black goo for buggers), the poverty on top of wealth, is weighing on us.
so, we are getting out of kolkata for now. tomorrow we will take a train up north to darjeeling. it is time for us to see other parts of this country before this one makes us go crazy. the train ride will take about 9 hours. putting us there wed at 3am (we are about 9 1/2 hours ahead of you guys). we should have internet there also, so as soon as we find it we will write again.
love,
brandon and cydney
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Visitor
Woke up around 9 and went in search of breakfast, we found a small cafe down the street that caters to foreigners and were excited to find they serve coffee, milkshakes, grilled cheese, burgers, chinese food, italian food, and of course indian. I had honey butter toast and brandon had a bananna crepe. The coffee was some of the best I have had. We went on foot to tour the neighborhood and were able to buy toilet paper and a washcloth. The room isn't fancy, but is clean (no bed bugs at least) and on a safe and relatively quiet street. We have our own bathroom for a whopping extra dollar a night, but no hot water or sink-just a shower and toilet. The bed has about a two inch mattress on a wood frame and some of the hardest pillows we've ever slept on. Oddley we've been sleeping very well. Today brandon hung a clothes line in our room so that we can hang up our towel and wet clothes. The fan keeps the room relatively cool considering the no air conditioning thing. As we were taking a nap today we had a visitor come check things out-(a gecko). But he soon left us as we are short on bugs. We found the sisters of charity and will go tomorrow to check things out.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
greetings for kolkata
we finally made it. after two days of travel we arrived in kolkata.
for the 10 hour layover in chicago, we took the train into downtown. we walked around and saw the mocp (museum of contemporary photography). then went at ate some pizza. how could we not eat pizza in chicago? then we hung around in a barnes and noble to kill some time before we headed back to the airport. are flight was for 7:15pm. in the airport, we ate our final portabella burger and got on the plane.
for the most part we both sleep really well. and the 12hrs went by rather fast. once we landed in dehli we had to claim our bags and go through customs. no problem there, but i (brandon) just started headed out of the airport and missed the turn for us to go to the other terminal. so after getting redirected, we made it back the bus that was to take us to the right one. our next flight was not until 6am the next, and it was only 9:30pm. so, we decided to get a room for the night and paid way too much staying close to the airport. but it was better than sleeping in the "waiting area" they had. and we had to start check in at 4am (ridiculous). once arriving in kolkata, we got a pre-paid taxi and headed to sudder st. this was our first real glimpse of india, and wow. it is not at all what we were expecting. so far everything seems crazy. it is hard to piece everything together and know exactly what is going on. we are overwhelmed and trying to get our bearings. so, right now we have found a decent room for a good price, a place to change money, small market with water and snacks, and an internet source. next is food. which, wish us luck, cydney doesnt care much for indian food. so, that is where we are at right now. we will keep you posted.
love,
brandon and cydney
for the 10 hour layover in chicago, we took the train into downtown. we walked around and saw the mocp (museum of contemporary photography). then went at ate some pizza. how could we not eat pizza in chicago? then we hung around in a barnes and noble to kill some time before we headed back to the airport. are flight was for 7:15pm. in the airport, we ate our final portabella burger and got on the plane.
for the most part we both sleep really well. and the 12hrs went by rather fast. once we landed in dehli we had to claim our bags and go through customs. no problem there, but i (brandon) just started headed out of the airport and missed the turn for us to go to the other terminal. so after getting redirected, we made it back the bus that was to take us to the right one. our next flight was not until 6am the next, and it was only 9:30pm. so, we decided to get a room for the night and paid way too much staying close to the airport. but it was better than sleeping in the "waiting area" they had. and we had to start check in at 4am (ridiculous). once arriving in kolkata, we got a pre-paid taxi and headed to sudder st. this was our first real glimpse of india, and wow. it is not at all what we were expecting. so far everything seems crazy. it is hard to piece everything together and know exactly what is going on. we are overwhelmed and trying to get our bearings. so, right now we have found a decent room for a good price, a place to change money, small market with water and snacks, and an internet source. next is food. which, wish us luck, cydney doesnt care much for indian food. so, that is where we are at right now. we will keep you posted.
love,
brandon and cydney
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