Wild Life in the Streets of India

Holy guacamole!  The cows here along with pigs, goats, and dogs run wild living in the streets.  In Pushkar I actually had one cow head butt me!  I was talking to a group of little girls who wanted a picture with me.  I noticed there was a grown white cow standing about 3ft away from me.  Since I have already had a fear of cows I did my best to pay it no mind.  Next thing I know I see a white flash and feel a soccer punch to my thigh.  The whole thing surprised me and I yelped!  Haha everyone rushed to push me away.  From then on I have been quite afraid to touch the cows or pass them in narrow alley ways.  Haley on the other hand loves the cows.  She calls them her little friends.  She pets and loves on them all the time.  The natives question here actions.  "That's a cow." they says.

One afternoon I had a banana left over from breakfast that I didn't want was determined to use it to make friends with a small cow was in the hotel.  The owners of the hotel wanted it out so I ran up to get the banana.  I lead the little cow out with the banana.  The cute little cow loved it.  I gave Selby the second half and when Selby had ran out of food it decided to give her a little head nudge. Haha we are both okay.

In lots of the cities there are some cows super skinny!  They roam the streets and trash piles looking for food, but I find most trying to eat plastic.  It breaks my heart.  I wonder, why don't they run away to a green field?  The dogs too are so skinny and visually suffering from skin conditions.  And the poor things are kicked and constantly having things thrown at them.  One afternoon I saw a skinny black dog sadly staring up at people probably looking for some loving or food to be dropped.  Out of now where a lady chucks a clay pot at the dog from behind!  The dog was not harming anyone!  This instantly upset me and I grabbed the first Indian I saw and asked him " Why do you all not like dogs?"  He tried to explain to me that their culture of dogs was different from mine.  That dogs here will try to bite and steal food.  Which I understand dogs at home try to do the same and then we act.  But a lot of the dogs around here are not rabid.  They act like house trained dogs or are extremely skittish.   Later the lady that had thrown the pot at the dog came up and tried to sell me stuff.  I told her no, she had harmed that innocent dog.  She tried to tell me the same thing the other guy did, but I just can't wrap my mind around it still.

Time at Tong Len

Hello everyone!

Yesterday I was lucky enough to spend time at Tong Len hostel. Initially, I was just excited to see all of the children and talk to them. I had no idea what the day would hold. The time that I was lucky enough to spend there will be something I never forget. As soon as you walk in the feeling of love and gratefulness is palpable. Walking in with my little ball and paddle set felt like I was doing nothing but seeing the smile on the children's faces when they saw what I was holding was heart warming. I have never met a group of children who were so open, loving, kind, and generous. They welcomed us all with open arms and were thrilled to show us the place that they call home. While there, children just kind of latched on to me and proceeded to tell me what to do. I didn't mind though; I was there for them after all. It was amazing getting to know all of them. Asking them about school, and family, and what they do for fun. I could tell that they were just as eager for me to know them as I was. At some point during our visit I got a makeover. Typically I am not one for letting people touch my face or put crazy makeup on me but today I was able to forget about all of that and just be there with the kids. I guess you could say my makeup was abstract. Bright turquoise and hot pink covered my eyelids. My cheeks were flushed with the pinkest blush you've ever seen, and my lips were given color with a dark pink eye shadow. To me I looked crazy but to the girls I was a work of art. Looking past the bright colors and awkward placement I was able to see the hard work and care they put into it. Of course we had a photo shoot afterward and I could tell that the girls were having fun. It made feel good to know that I was able to brighten their day even if it was in such a small way. Not only did I get a makeover but I also had my first experience with henna. One of the older girls painted an intricate design on my hand. I'm looking at it as I type this and it is so beautiful. I wish I was as talented and creative as she is. Before we left for the day I was able to take part in a dance party. All of the kids from the hostel and our whole group gathered in a large room where the music was loud and the energy was contagious. I'm not the best dancer but seeing all of those kids dance really put me to shame. I have no idea where they learned to move like that! Even though I didn't do much dancing, just seeing the joy on everyone's faces was enough for me. I have never seen a group of kids more happy or content with their lives. It was truly inspiring. I will never forget the time I got to spend at Tong Len. We were there to play but it was ended up being so much more. I truly learned the importance of happiness and having an open heart.

Until next time,
Josie 

Being Sick in India

So as I mentioned in an earlier blog, I got sick for a good while.  If any of y'all were wondering how that was, it was awful when it comes to needing a restroom.  For one, public bathrooms are most of the time not free which sucks if you need to go a lot .  Second there are not many when you are walking around the streets.  Thirdly half are quite unsanitary squatting hole toilets with no toilet paper.  Another unpleaseant thing is the heat.  It is at least 105 every where we were while I was sick.

On a brighter note though my AC in my room worked.  I was able to rest in the room for a couple of days to get well.  Dr. Maher and the whole group were really understanding and comforting about me getting well.  People even offered to help with my bags when we traveled.  The doctor's office was hidden back in an alley and would have been impossible for me to find if it weren't for Dr Maher and the hotel man. The place was kinda of like a house and his patient room was like a business man's office.  There was his desk, two chairs in front of his desk, and a couple more in the room.  The patient's table was longer and more narrow than the ones in the USA.  But the doctor was very nice and quick!  There was no nurse to check vital signs or previous medical history which was odd to me, but he seemed to know exactually what it was.  Makes you wonder if we could come up with a faster system in the USA. 

The pharmacies are also very different here.  They are usually on the sides of main roads marked with a red cross so they are not too difficult to find.  Inside is just a huge room of straight medications.  No name brand medication or any other goods just drugs.

And welll now I'm sick again.  I had been getting well for a couple of days but now I am back to the same thing. Yay, not.  Dr. Maher, Aaron, and their local friend (sweet boy around 14) all took me to the hospital to be examined.  Once I first got there and tried to explain the whole story to the nurse, she claimed I wasn't an emergency.  Luckily Dr. Maher's friend said something to her which I didn't understand and she went to get a doctor.  :) I don't know how long we had to wait but for me it felt like forever.  The nurse finally took me back to a big room with multiple different kinds of beds and had me sit on one while she checked my vital signs.  The doctors visit in the hospital was a lot like the USA's regular doctor visits which I liked.  She asked me about the whole story and my past medical history, etc.  I am going to have to have a stool test to figure out what it is but she gave me a medicine to get rid of the vomiting !  The first pill she gave me ended up being thrown up :( so they gave it through an IV.  My nausea is gone, but I am still in very much pain.  Pray that this stool test tells all!

Beautiful Souls

Greetings from McLeod Ganj, a small mountain town. The majority of this town is occupied by Tibetans who escaped Chinese rule by crossing through the Himalayas. Their story is truly inspiring. The scenery here is absolutely breathtaking. The view from our hotel encompasses small towns carved into the mountains, lush greenery, and even a snowy mountain in the distance. Who knew snow even existed in India? The market here is unlike any other place in India. The jewelery is all handmade with such precision and attention to detail. Silver and turquoise rings, necklaces, earrings, and statues fill the marketplace. More than just the physical aspects of McLeod Ganj, I am deeply drawn to it due to its people. Shop owners don't haggle you to enter their jobs. They don't even try to overcharge you because you are a foreigner. People on the streets smile, wave, and exchange kind words. Other tourists kindly greet you, ask about why you are in India, and share their stories with you. Even the dogs here are nice, and look fairly clean. In fact, one dog followed some of the girls into the restaurant we were eating at, and just sat and watched us as we ate; he was adorable. It almost doesn't feel like India anymore. The occasional cow dung on the streets, honking of horns, and smell of stale urine reminds me that I still am here, just in a colder, more relaxed town.

Today, I was lucky enough to attend Tong Len's hostel, a place where 83 students live, study, play, and learn. These children once lived in a nearby slum, and were taken to Tong Len to live a better life. A lot of their parents continue to beg on the streets, work labor jobs, or are no longer in the children's lives. The kids at Tong Len won't let any unfortunate circumstances stop them from achieve their dreams. Some girls, like my friend Renu, want to be singers when they grow up. The boys want to be futbol players. A lot of them even want to be lawyers, doctors, and engineers. I admire their determination and ability to look past the difficulties and obstacles they have faced, and continue to face. I've learned a lot from these kids today... probably more than I can even express in words. I can't even imagine growing up in a slum, and now growing up without my parents. These children are anywhere from 4-18 years old, but they all are so happy. They have so little, but seem happier than I can ever remember myself being. I think that says a lot. We, as Americans, tend to forget the bigger picture. We forget to put things in perspective. What does it take to make you happy? A new car? A good grade? A new boyfriend or girlfriend? For these kids, simply playing with them made them so happy. Giving them a hug, a kiss on the cheek, carrying the young children, and joking around with the older ones went such a long way. I'm absolutely exhausted from running around, playing soccer, playing tag, playing American Idol, getting henna done, playing dress-up, and playing hand games. My new friends, Renu (the next big popstar), Mumta (Cupid), Sahil (who's real name is Vishal, but he calls himself Sahil since I told him that is my favorite boy name), Rahul (the boy who wouldn't let go of my hand and cried when it was time for me to leave), and Mukesh (my husband... he gave me a ring, sang me a song, told me he loved me, and got my phone number) have changed my life. I really hope that I can go back to Tong Len some day and visit my friends again. They have the purest, most beautiful souls I have encountered. I can only hope that I can learn the key to true happiness that it seems that they have all found.

Until next time, Radhi

McLeod Ganj is so amazing! The higher elevation causes cooler, refreshing air. Our hotel is encircled by mountains. While walking the streets here you see a lot of Tibetans. They are phenotypically disparate and look more Chinese than Indian. Some of them are adorned in burgundy and yellow robes. These are the Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns. The Tibetans escaped to India due to the Chinese taking over their country and killing lots of their people. It's sad and I hope that one day Tibet will become free.

We visited the monastery where the Dalai Lama resides and walked along the path encircling it. Many Buddhists circumabulate the monastery and to them it becomes a form of meditation. Prayer wheels, scriptures inscribed in stone, prayer flags, and the beautiful vegetation made this walk amazing! After this we hiked a bit more and found a nice spot to meditate. Meditation is an arduous task. Clearing one's mind and focusing on one's breath alone is quite difficult. My brain became scattered and kept jumping from one thought to another. I then would have to bring my thoughts back to my breath. I want to practice more to obtain a focused mind. If I can maintain this awareness and apply it to my everyday life I will become a happier person. I want to acquire the patience to stop and think before reacting.

This place is incredible! I can't believe the trip is coming to an end! It's crazy! I want to stay here longer!

Welcome to McLeod Ganj

Hello everyone!

Yesterday was our first full day in McLeod Ganj and I already love it here. The weather is absolutely amazing compared to everywhere else we've been, granted it rains a lot here. The hotel we are staying at has the most beautiful view. Mountains surround us; it is a sight to be seen. We started our day bright and early as usual. We went to the monastary where the Dalai Lama lives. Unfortunately he wasn't there but even getting to see where he lived was awesome in itself. I was captivated by the people there practicing their religion. Buddhist's pray with their whole body. Seeing them move like that seemed like something you would see at a gym, and they did it for hours! I can't imagine how in shape they must be! It is also customary for the people here to circumambulate the monastary. The walk was not a casual stroll but compared to what came later it was a piece of cake. Later in the afternoon we took the walk from hell. It is very hilly here and that is probably an understatement. We walked through the woods to villages higher up in the mountains. The walk was gorgeous but very strenuous. I thought the group may have to leave me on the side of a mountain in India but like everything on this trip I put it in perspective and powered through it. I am so glad I did because the views were incredible and the opportunity to meditate in a place like that is once in a lifetime. I'm not the best meditator but the experience was wonderful. I recommend everyone back home try it out! I can't believe the trip is almost over; I almost don't want to come back!

Until next time!
Josie 

Around the Dalai Lama

Hey Everybody,

We are up in McLeod Ganj now, so today we walked over to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's compound.  There is his residence, a monastery, some temples and educational institutes very close  together there.  We started out with visiting the temples, which are very intricately decorated with Tibetan art.  They use very bright colors for their pictures of different Bodhisattvas and deities, and all of the walls are painted, plus there are larger paintings in the shrines.  You could spend all day just looking at the paintings because they are so detailed and all around the place.  We went through a couple of temples and walked around them, and spun the prayer wheels along the outside.  The Tibetans have this really cool idea about prayer wheels, where they place a ton of tiny mantras, or prayers, inside of a cylindrical wheel, then spin it so all of the prayers are given spiritually at once.  Then there is a row of wheels around the outside of the temple and people walk around spinning each one, and that adds up to millions of mantras in a short period of time.  Also it is kind of fun when everyone is doing it together, and I think we should always enjoy fun spirituality.

After that we circumambulated the H.H. the Dalai Lama's home, walking along a path outside of the grounds around his house.  The view of the mountains and valleys was beautiful, there was some fog but we could see a bunch of villages and monasteries on the landscape.  There were long rows of prayer wheels along this path too, so if you spun all of those you really were putting some mantras out there.  They even had some giant prayer wheels, with really a lot of mantras inside, and I had to put some effort into getting them to go around good.

Then we reached the entrance to the grounds, which was closed off, and it had a couple of stupas, which are memorials, and incense and offering burning structures.  There was also a structure on the outside with a very interesting wall that everyone should know about.  It was a memorial with the pictures of all of the Tibetans that have conducted self-immolations in protest of China's occupation of Tibet.  Self-immolation is when a person douses themselves in gasoline and lights it on fire, then sits in meditation as they burn.  This is the last resort for protesters that have no other avenue for non-violent expression, but unfortunately not enough westerners are aware that it is going on.  The Chinese government is doing a lot of evil things to Tibetans, and the Chinese people for that matter, but because they are important economically these atrocities do not receive enough media attention.  That is what happens when they same people that run our economics control the major media outlets.  Thank God for the internet though, we can spread awareness here, and maybe help the movement towards change in China, and peace around the world.  Free Tibet!

Peace,
Frank