Taj Mahal - A Place of LOVE

1/10/11
Today was our first full day in Bangalore!  First impressions are great.  I love Bangalore - way more than Delhi.  More on that later.  For now, I want to write briefly about our 18 hour day trip (6 hours each way!) to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort last Saturday.


We left our hotel at 6:30am and arrived in Agra at 12:30pm.  The bus was comfortable enough, but the weather was COLD.  Like 35 degrees, and no heat on the bus.  Luckily I remembered to bring a blanket from the hotel for Anne and me to stay warm!  We were all freezing the whole ride.

Bus driver warming his feet on the exhaust pipes (above); cow outside McDonald's (below)

Agra is a very touristy town.  Agra has 5 tourist sites, of which the Taj Mahal is of course most popular.  We were able to see two on our day visit - the Taj, and Agra Fort.  Both were impressive and pictures will not do any justice.  It was cloudy/foggy the entire ride to the Taj, and when we got there, the sun burned through the clouds and was beautiful!  Clear blue skies.  Fresh air. (There are laws prohibiting gas cars a certain distance around the Taj to keep air quality high.)  Our tour guide, Furqan Ali (“Ali”) was really good.  He is getting his second PhD, he is a pharmacist and has his first in Medicine, and now is going for  a PhD in Anthropology.  He claims he’s going to be on the National Geographic channel in April - I need to Google him to see if any of this is true. :) 

Either way, a nice guy, history buff, and knew tons of interesting facts about the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.  He seemed to work as a tour guide because his enjoyed it, it was a passion, not because he needed the money.


The Taj is really a building of love - it reflects the deep love a king had for his queen, as he built this place for her to rest her body when she dies.  Her resting place (the Taj Mahal) is white;  he had plans to build a matching black one next to it for his body, but it never happened.  Both of their bodies are buried here and we were able to walk in and see the above ground replicas of their tombs.  It was romantic in a way, even if over the top and over elaborate.

The building itself is ornately decorated and it is unreal to believe that this was all built by hand.  The bricks are white - a beautiful white that turns bright white midday, and then pink and orange at sunset.  They only allow visitors at sunset 5 days per month - right around the full moon.  Having been to 2 of the 7 Wonders of the World (this and Machu Picchu), it was interesting how different the two are.  Both uniquely impressive, both worth the visit, but highly distinct.

Next we went to Agra Fort and saw this amazing complex of buildings of beautiful red stone.  As we entered both the Taj and Agra Fort, we were bombarded to buy things in the same way movie stars are bombarded by the paparazzi every day.  It was unsettling, stressful, and annoying.  They literally set things on our laps and shoved them in our faces, shouting prices “400, okay 350, okay 300, okay 200 ma’am, okay 150 best price.” This was all in a matter of 25 seconds between the gates and the bus.  Our tour guide helped us buy things cheaply and in peace - another reason we liked him.

Agra was a fantastic day and well worth it. We were able to enjoy a catered meal, private bus, entrance to these two sites, and a visit to a family-owned business (supposedly the descendants of the Taj Mahal family) to observe the creation of such ornate marble décor and buy a few things.  I got 2 coasters which can be used or for decoration.  Knowing I like useful things, what do you think you’ll be able to rest your glass on next time you visit my house?!

Chintan Means "Concern"

1/7/2011
Yesterday (Thursday) we started the morning a bit later.  It was nice to have some time to enjoy breakfast and socialize as a group!  Late morning we went to Chintan, which means Concern in English.  Chintan is a non-government organization (NGO) that was started due to the fact that impoverished people were picking recyclables out of garbage on the streets.  The people who work for Chintan make $90 per month.  They run an operation where they move garbage in and literally pick electronic waste and other recyclables out with their bare hands.  They weren’t wearing gloves!  They SIFT through the garbage, pile by pile.  It was humbling to see, and if you’ve ever had a hard day at work, it’d be good to think of these workers and what they do every day.  

It was also neat to see how hard they work.  They don’t have much, but they weren’t begging for money or food from us.  They just continued to work at their jobs.  Some of the people are in charge of heavier labor like transporting boxes/bags in on carts, heaving it over their shoulders or pulling a huge cart strapped around their waste.  It was like a small community - they seemed to all get along and there was even a small café on the street where some were enjoying a small lunch.  There were dogs (of course) and some children.  I really enjoyed this visit and it was neat to get away from the beaten path of business and see how a small community of workers like this operates and what their lives are like.  Here are some pictures from the experience:

Packages of waste moved in to be sorted (above); a black spot of ashes where people burned garbage to start a fire to keep warm (below).  All over the city, small fires of garbage are started on the sidewalks/streets for the homeless to keep warm.  Saturday the high was 53, low was 39 degrees.  And they don't have heat!

 A puppy sleeping in Chintan on a stack of packages (above); sign for booking scooters to transport packages (below)

 Scooters for transport (above); passenger train (below)

 Chintan workers sifting through garbage piles for e-waste and other recyclables (above).  They work very hard for $90 per month; A brick house near Chintan (below).  This house is actually very sturdy compared to many.

 Recycle sign outside of Chintan (above), writing is in Hindi; piles of garbage waiting to be sifted through (below)

Me at the Chintan sign (above); packages of fruits and vegetables for transport in a neighborhood nearby Chintan (below)

 Gate to Chintan (above); Puppy and its Mama (below)

Transport/manual worker near Chintan (above); Packages for transport - very common on Indian streets (below)

Cows are sacred to Hindus, so not eaten, but used for hauling cargo and often seen roaming the streets.  Cows are all owned by someone (above); Small houses in a village on our drive back to the hotel (below)

Cow used for transport (above); Man selling water on the street (lemons are in the water for freshness - below)

Someone's house in a village on the way back to the hotel (above)

Charming a Snake

My father in law, Pete, said the one picture he wanted was me with a snake charmer.  PETE - you'll be proud! Not only did I sit with the charmer, but I touched the snake!  Yes, a cobra.  Our group was standing around and I immediately sat down next to him (tipped him of course).  He played his snake flute (they can't hear it, they feel the vibration) and he had me touch the snake... then the snake HISSED at me!  OMG it was nuts.  But once in a lifetime.  Pete, these pics are for you.  xoxo!

The one below was as it hissed at me!  Yikes!

And here's a link to the video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0LvzXKPXNM

School Day 1

1/3/2011


Happy New Year! Well in the past 5 days I’ve lost both grandpas, and as Crystal said, it’s a good thing I’m in a spiritual place for the next month.  It’s definitely been surreal - being with Grandpa Bill when he died was extremely special.  Now coming to India and hearing of Grandpa Orlo’s death was even more surreal.  It’s like he’s gone, but I’m across the world, so it’s harder to digest the reality of it.  They both had great lives and I have amazing memories with each of them.  If Indians know the truth, then they will both have good karma for sure.


Yesterday was a great day to “get lost” in India.  Anne, Ben, Kelly, Fitz and I had brunch at the hotel, and only after we walked out, did we realize it was NOT free as we had heard!  We learned it was in fact almost 3,000 rupees per person!  A $68 brunch, of which I only ate a little.  Oh well - such is life and learning.


After brunch, Ben, Anne and I wandered the streets to see what we could find.  A nice man in a motorized rickshaw asked if he could help us.  We told him where we wanted to go and he said he could take us there for 20 rupees (50 cents).  We agreed.  The ride was well worth it to me!  This tiny little vehicle, and we were crammed in back together.  We went to a temple (shoes off), then a shop with overpriced merchandise (magic carpets! real rubies!) and the guy there told us a quote about Americans: “The tiger doesn’t know his own power but if he did he’d take over the world.”  He was a character.  We also went to the parliament, India Gate, and saw the president’s house.  The amusing part was when we were outside, all these college age kids started wanting to take pictures with us!  They asked us to take our pictures and held our hands, like we were celebrities.  It was quite amusing and slightly embarrassing.  


Now today is the big tour day of Delhi.  We started at a mosque, which was gorgeous, and we had to take our shoes off and wear saris.  It was very spiritual.  The best part of the day was the manual rickshaw rides, where we wove in and out of tiny Old Delhi alleys amidst thousands of people.  Very cool experience.  We also went to Ghandi’s place of burial (post-cremation), a small place called Have More for lunch, and an 800-year old structure.  We saw many sites out the windows and experienced some very interesting things.


It’s also amazing how many people are on the streets at all times.  I am noticing it very much depends on the part of the city we’re in (same as with New York or LA), but there are a lot of children begging, talking to us, putting their hands to their mouth signaling for food.  It’s all very sad.  It’s hard because you want to help them, but you can’t help all of them.  So then is it best to help none of them?  I’m not really sure.  Now we’re headed to a handicraft market, and in some serious traffic.  Then off to a nice dinner as a group!  More later…

 My friend Anne and me in front of Ghandi's memorial (above)

 800-year old building (below) - the tall one in between the arch/pillars.  Crystal, the light was gorgeous, I thought of you. :)

Thoughts from the Flight

12/31/10


“You’ve gotta learn to control the things in your mind above all else.”
                 -Richard, Eat Pray Love

In Eat Pray Love, I watched the Italy part during dinner on my business flight.  Of course we all know the Italy part is fairly fluffy.  Then (a couple cocktails in) I needed a nap, so I took a break, and now am getting into the India part.  The first scene when she’s in the taxi in India is alarming!  The streets, the people, the crazy sounds, the smog - am I really ready for all of this?  I am not sure.  I have an image in my head of what to expect, but of course, being there always completely wipes away the preconceived notions.  I wonder if what I picture is at all close to what will be.  

Now Liz is living at the Ashram and talking to her friend Richard about clearing her mind, controlling her mind.  Focus.  It’s something we all lack, especially in America.  Especially Millennials.  Especially Millennials in Corporate America!  I’m excited to find some focus on this journey, among other things.  Time for more of the movie!  More thoughts to come soon. :)

PS- Cows are mooing in the background in the movie.  Am I REALLY ready for this?!?

“So the holy truth of the whole adventure here in India is in one line: ‘God dwells within you, as you.’  God’s not interested in watching a performance of how a spiritual person looks and behaves, the quiet girl who glides silently through the place with an ethereal smile - who is that person? Not me… God dwells within me, as me.”

The next month will prove to be equally as spiritual as talking to Grandpa Bill while standing by his bed as he dies.  It will be equally as spiritual in a completely different way.  It will be more about the unseen than the seen.  It will be new to my senses and help me see life the way a huge part of the world sees it.  This huge part of the world - over 1 billion people - see the world from a completely different point of view.  It will be cool.

“Sometimes to lose balance for love is part of living balance in life.” So true!  How often in love do we feel balanced?  The best part of Jake is that he IS balance, the definition of balance.  He is my rock and keeps me sane.  However, there are still ups and downs, questions and insecurities.  There are risks to be taken.  It’s about knowing the right risks to take.  

And, as the movie closes out:

“I believe in the physics of the quest - a force of nature governed by laws as real as the laws of gravity.  The rule of quest physics goes something like this: if you’re brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house, to bitter old resentments and set out in a truth seeking journey either externally or internally, and if you’re truly willing to regard everything that happens on that journey as a clue, and you accept everyone you meet on that journey as a teacher, and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you.  I can’t help but believe it, given my experience.”

-Liz Gilbert, Eat Pray Love 

That’s probably enough on Eat Pray Love.  It’s 10pm at home, New Year’s Eve.  It’s got to be like 3am wherever we are.  The map shows the airplane just south of Iceland.  Yes, I bet it’s 3am.  So New Year’s already sort of happened.  Happy 2011!  I have a feeling it’s going to be a REALLY good year.