5/25 quick update

Yesterday we arrived in Jaipur after a five hour bus ride of thrills. We watched in amazement as our driver cooly passed between trucks, cars, autorickshaws, carts, and cows and happily drove on the wrong side of the road if that made it easier (or more deathdefying). We played mafia and charades/taboo to pass the time and also had a stop at the Mcdonalds in gurgaon which was delicious. When we arrived in Jaipur we visited the wind palace and also an ancient astronomical site where it was possible to tell the time within two seconds with sundials. We then went back to our surprisingly luxurious hotel for a swim in their rooftop pool with beautiful views of the surrounding area. Jaipur was really hot (above 40C for sure) so the pool felt wonderful. I was exhausted after the long day so I went to sleep assuming I would wake up for dinner. I woke up at seven the next morning and felt great :). Others enjoyed the hotel bar/restaurant and we were ready for another early morning going to Amber palace the next day. We rode an elephant up to the palace(more later from Imane on this) whcih was spectacular. We then tried to do a littel shopping before heading back to delhi, and peple picked up a few bedcovers and pillowcases. Now back in Delhi, some people are watching star wars and others are at a restaurant. Allison and I are off to meet them now to enjoy our last night in Delhi.

Last night in Delhi, 5/24

Quick Update:

A few days ago, I pumped water out of a toilet and drank it to prove that my water filter worked. It tasted like old porcelain.

Yesterday we visited the Taj Mahal. Later, we saw a beautiful ghost town, a forgotten city built by Akbar the Great as a palacial compound. Then we ate at Pizza Hut.

Today we spoke with Development Alternatives. The main presenter was a former Colonel in the Indian army. They served us good food.

We saw another monument, the Qalb Minar, which is a giant sandstone tower. People are tired, but having fun. We're almost adjusted to the time.

We then shopped. I wanted to sneak into the Hotel Imperial's large swimming pool, but there wasn't time.

Soon, we're going to dinner with Ankita's family friend in Delhi.

Tomorrow, off to Jaipur to ride the elephants!

Late night in Delhi, 5/20

It's after 11 o'clock, and the internet cafe is closing.

Another half of the group didn't come immediately back from the Red Fort. Me, Giovanni, Ankita, Tiffany, Allison P, Chelsea, and Imane stuck around on the streets of Delhi. First, we visited a Jain temple, which was a little island in the dust-choked bustle of the streets. From a balcony, we could see streams of traffic and uninterrupted chains of humanity pumping life in every direction.

Then, we plunged into the blood stream. We tried to move through the thousands of people, animals, rickshaws, and cars, looking for a decent restaruant. We turned down a wide side street and walked through the glowing night.

It's hard to describe the sweatiness, pollution, and pulsing life on the streets and in the buildings. While walking through it all, the mind detaches itself and looks on a little curiously. Two monkeys chased each other up a wall while a men banged a bell and drum in unison. People sell things everywhere, cheap knick knacks or rickshaw rides. We couldn't find a place to eat that didn't look like it would shred your insides. We passed lots of stands with fruit and vegetables glistening in the artificial light, but none of it was edible for us.

Luckily, Ankita speaks Hindi. We pushed out way back and onto a more crowded main road. Eventually, we found our restaurant. It was a little fast food place that actually served pizza! The surprise was that the pizza had spicy chili instead of tomoto sauce, so I drank a liter of water with dinner.

On the rickshaw ride back, Ankita bargained a price of 50 rupees for a ride in the little three wheeled green and yellow contraption. Giovanni and I took the second car. The ride was twenty minutes of speeding and careening around curves, narrowly missing children, horses, dogs, and busses. I think the driver was showing off for the thrilled tourists. When we got out, we gave him 60.

Tomorrow, we meet with Mobile Creches and Yale Club of India. The jet lag and heat are still knocking people out.

Much more to follow, especially to fill in the earlier gaps. We've already done and seen a lot, and it feels like the trip has only just begun.

Day 1

On May 15 Ankita, Giovanni, and I took Air Canada from La Guardia to Toronto, where we found Nate waiting at the gate for our flight to India. We had some food, and spoke with Matteo whose flight from Newark was delayed. He arrived just in time and we got on the flight ready for fourteen hours on the plane. Just by chance it turned out that Nate and I had been assigned seats next to each other and Ankita, Giovanni, and Matteo were only a few rows away. The flight was long but uneventful, and I was quite happy thanks to Nate's collection of quality magazines such as In Touch and Nylon as well as games of War and a new itunes playlist. The plane was not full but we didn't find an empty row, so Giovani stretched out on the floor with ankita and matteo sleepign on the seats. When we arrived in Delhi we waited at the airport for Allison and Imane and then headed out to our hotel. It was about midnight when we got to the hotel and so we went to sleep after a quick snack on fabulous candy which Imane had brought. The next day we woke up early thanks to jet lag and had Indian breakfast at the hotel. Matteo asked for continental inially, but changed his mind after he learned they did not have croissants. We then went to see the Lakshmi Narayan Temple and the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, also stopping by Nirulas in connaught place. In the afternoon Imane and Matteo went to the internet cafe Reliance Webworld, and Nate, Matteo and I went back to the airport to pick up matteo's bag and also to gurgaon to drop off Nate's bags at his office (PSi). the Psi office in Gurgaon was amazing- the whole area was very upscale and looked like Florida. It turns out the office is also right below the Indian MTV office! On the way back, our driver did not know where to go and we were stuck in traffic, so it was an experience. We arrived at the airport late and discovered that the Air Canada office was locked. luckily when the Air canada flight arrived with the rest of our group the office reopened. So we made it back to the hotel tired but happy and ready for our early wake up to take the train to Ludhiana.

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