Rajastan-a brief run through

We went to Jaisalmer to see the big sandstone fort. It looks amazing from the outside, however it has been taken over by hotels, small tourist shops and restaurants inside, which are all slowly tearing the fort apart. I was kind of saddened by this beautiful time warp, but when we wanted to take pictures or just look around there are coca-cola signs and water pipes bursting and garbage everywhere. Too bad. However, we did find a funny shop called the Bhang shop. It sells Bhang lassi, as well as bhang cookies. This made for a giggling afternoon to the lake, and then for a wonderful sleep afterward. We only stayed 3 nights, then moved on to Jodhpur.

Jodpur, the city of blue! It is funny when we heard this because why would everyone pain their place blue, but when you get to look from a rooftop at the city, it is amazingly beautiful! The fort here was better, it was ticketed entrance fee so that it was maintained and people didn't throw garbage around. We also had some leftover cookies, which only kicked in when we got into a big crowd of people, which sounds scary, but it was nice to be soo calm and not get overwhelmed with anger of the pushy Indian tourists. It was also funny that the Indian tourists seemed to be taking more pictures of Mark and I rather than the fort itself. Im sure after this trip we will be all over the internet! Now I understand how famous people feel, they never seem to get privacy and when they go out everyone wants to have their picture taken with them!! Moving on though, Jodhpur was nice yet not extravagant so we moved on.

We were thinking of going to Pushkar, they have a yearly camel festival. But, the more we looked into it, the more it seemed like we didn't want to go. We were told there was more tourists than camels and it wasn't very organized either. So we decided to skip it and take the bus to Udaipur!

Udaipur- known as Indias Venice! Well though it is very beautiful, it would be nice to teach the locals that if they are so proud of where they come from, why the hell do they ruin it with garbage! There is no upkeep at all, so the beautiful lakes are well not kept up.... We ended up by getting a great guesthouse, Lake Sky Guesthouse. It was run by Johar, an amazing man who brought us in and made it feel like home. We had some dinners together and he answered all our questions, it was sad to go. We stayed for 6 nights there, it was great but we didn't really DO anything. I did however get a facial, and I think I will wait till I get home until I ever get another one. All the smacking around he was doing to my face, I felt like I had done something wrong! I guess it was for lymphatic movement and stuff, but geeze! Not relaxing like I thought they were supposed to be! Later that night, while we were sleeping, I had gotten up to go to the washroom. ( In our guesthouse room the doors and windows have a beautiful windy outline to them, which makes the doors smaller than they usually are, Mark had hit his head the night previous!) I walked through the door, and WHAM! Hit my face on the side of the windy concrete wall! I hadn't turned the light on cause I was sleepy, then I probably swore a little and walked into the bathroom only to run into the shower taps! Haha. I woke up with a lump under my right eye and man it is sore! So I was beat up by the door as well. Life is funny.

This is just an overview of our quick run through of Rajastan. We are now on our way to GOA, finally some relaxed beaches. We get to have our vacation time now!!!

Bum-ba-lumpidy-dum-da-dum...

Riding a camel. Not so comfy, quite awkward, but one of the funniest things I have done. I don't know why but as soon as my camel started walking I giggled like a school girl for a very long time. It is so weird, very different from riding the elephant, and their faces are so funny looking as well. There is a lot of padding so it isn't too bad, and they had one camel for each person, as well as separate camels lugging the cart carrying our food and water. Camels fart....A LOT!! I thought they would be more of a spitting type due to the stories I have heard, but they fart, and fart and fart. It's quite funny!

Through the Indian desert, we stopped every 2 hours for a rest because of the intense heat. The second stop, the camel drivers made us a great meal of 3 different curries, all vegetarian, and delicious. After they cleaned up, we got back on the camels and rode to our camp for the night. We saw the amazing milky way and luckily they had brought beer, which was not very cold but a treat for sure. (beer in the desert, hahaa)

It turned out to be a great night there were 12 of us, all with amazing stories to share, and a great vibe throughout the evening. They made us some supper of tomato soup, and curry. After dinner, and a grossly annoying Indian band playing homemade music...we finished our stories and went to bed in our tents and thick blankets. It got quite cold that night so good thing I had my woolly socks!!

Due to the fact that my digestive system is AWESOME (it really works fast) I woke up in the morning having to run out of the tent, around the sand dunes and behind a tree. I didn't get a chance to dig a hole but it is amazing how the body works, not always with you!!! I covered it up and went back to the tent to breath.

We ate some breakfast of masala omellette and bread, then Mark and I headed on our way back to the guesthouse. We decided one day of riding camel is plenty!!

Experience will never be forgotten.

      Today we were part of a Muslim festival called Eid Al-Adha. They start at 10am by slaughtering 2 goats. This was my first time seeing something being killed, other than a bug or mouse.  It was humane; the way they never showed the knife, the way they said a prayer for the soul, and faced the goat to Mecca. However in India, the knives are not always sharp and it was difficult to watch. The first goat went  fairly fast, but since they use a different knife for each goat the second one wasn't so lucky. It was more of a sawing at the neck rather than a slit of the throat. I had to turn away. The blood shot far, but within 4 hours the goat was skinned, de-gutted, and cooked.


Mark took part in the skinning of the animal, it was the job for the men. And I helped make the chipati, an Indian bread cooked over an open flame.

I am still shocked, and have been in a different state of mind all day. After we ate, we came home around 2pm, and slept for almost 3 hours. I guess that is what emotions do to a person, tire them right out.

Taking meat for granted is not somehting I do, however I used to try not to think of what is being taken away when we sit down to eat a meal of any sort. Life is sacred and to take that away, that is sacred as well. We have made a pact that when we sit down for a meal we thank the farmers, animals, plants, and everyhing that was involved to make the food to thank them and ensure it is filled with positive energy so that our bodies may utilize this energy in a positive way, rather than just digestion.

It's crazy to think of how long and hard something works to make a life, and how fast it can be taken away. Not to look at it as a negative thing but as a step in learning about life itself. I know I have taken life for granted, I think everyone goes through this stage at one point in time. But I am lucky to learn such a valuable lesson and the amazing things I have experienced, because that can never be taken away.

I would suggest to anyone to take the school of life, due to the fact that it is one of the best experiences they will ever have, and alway remember.

Happiness: a state of mind

Oh McLeod Ganj.
What a beautiful escape from the life in India. A cool, crisp, clean breath of air as we got off the rattling bus. Such a simple thing that can bring a smile to anyone's face after being in major cities or towns in India. Hopping into a taxi for a grueling 15 minute ride uphill, on a so called "road", we reach the town where the Tibetans chose for their new home/settlement, (well until they get to go back, but I'm not going into that right now.) I can feel all the grimy loogies coming out of my lungs as they try to clean themselves and reach for the pure fresh mountain air. It is cold here. We were not prepared for this. That's ok, because one of the many amazing Tibetan specialties is knitting, and I buy myself a pair of yak wool socks to keep me warm at night. The next morning we register to visit the Dalai Lama, who is supposed to being doing a teaching in 3 days. We fill out a small form and get a card that attaches to our shirts, that says something in Tibetan about being cool, I'm sure. We spend the rest of the days waiting walking around gazing at the beautiful mountain ranges and enjoying the Tibetan people. (Tibetans are probably the happiest people I have ever met, and yes, I did just categorize a whole population of people but it is true.)

We bought radios to listen to the english version translation of the talks, and found a seat to listen. Well I'm not going to go through and tell you everything I learnt but I am going to say this: If you ever get a chance to see this amazingly smart, and very shy man, do it! I wrote some things down, but a lot of it is common sense. Basically not getting attached to anything in life and trying to be compassionate in every aspect of life. They gave everyone tea and bread at the beginning of every day, and everything was free. We also got red string to tie around our wrists to signify a blessing from his Holiness.

On another note.......

We have been asked a few times about our lives by the local people in India but mainly they ask these 3 things:

1. Are you married, this is a common one.
2.How many children; not, do you have any.
3. What religion are you.

Well number one, we tell people we are married because they don't understand the engagement process. But we go on telling them we have been not married for 7 years before we got married, and the just can't wrap their heads around it. Living together and stuff. Then they clarify, "Love marriage?" because the marriages here are arranged, and usually they don't know the person they are wedding until their wedding is finished. They always smile when we say YES it is always a love marriage in Canada, that's why we get married!

Number 2, well obviously we say zero and they say, well how old are you. This is because in their culture the woman should be pregnant within a couple days of their wedding, and the more boys they can pop out the better. As soon as they hear our age they gasp. They even ask, "is your family sad with you?" Due to the fact that this is their whole meaning of life!

And of course the religion question. Well although I was raised Catholic, I don't really practice any religion. I have tried to learn about many different types but I just can't believe EVERYTHING about only 1. We tell them we do believe in a God, this God has no name or face, it is just a God that we pray to and that is all. I believe that believing in something is a sure thing, but to believe in a whole story of tales to teach lessons, and being able to be forgiven of all sins by dipping your feet into some holy water, just doesn't cut it. I do believe in Karma but most religions have some sort of Karma in their religion. But other than that I follow my own way of life, and as long as I can keep myself happy and the people around me happy, that is a great religion in itself.

Oh, and trying to explain that you have no religion, well that just doesn't make sense here. They say, "Jesus?" 'no' "Buddah?" 'no' "Hindu?" 'no.' We usually end conversations there.
It just can't be. You can't have NO religion, No marriage, and NO children!!! But my answer to this always remains the same, "As long as there is love and happiness in our lives that's all we need."
I think we have educated quite a few people, and, well, we don't know if i will do harm or good.

Life goes on and Love will rule all! Spread the love!(add in peace sign here)