INDIA

Craziness. My First impression was that Kolkata looked like it had been struck with disaster and maybe the end of the world had struck. The Taxi's we rode in had constant near misses to pedestrians, some minor hits, lol, but the cars and taxi's always took care to slow down for all the cows casually walking down the center of the road. Cows are EVERYWHERE here. Buut, i haven't heard anyone exclaim "holy cow" yet. Tragic sights as well. Starving people on the streets, the smallest and skinniest children i'd ever seen. We went to Mother Theresa's house for the decrepit and dying. I didn't want to be a voyeur so i didn't stare at the dying people. The dogs are in a far worst state here than in Thailand. In Thailand the monks took care of stray dogs, but here they are in a far worse state. Mangy, diseased, starving and injured dogs and puppies and people. I really cant differentiate, it is all sad. It took me a little while to like India. at least a week. I was horified and annoyed by all the horns and "hello, hello madam!" Probably didn't help that i got sick right away and the over stimulation was a bitch. But Sarnoth helped me ease into it. I recovered from my sick, was surrounded by the familiar buddhism, and got to know a Jain family on a personal level. That helped. But counter effective to all the work it took to like this place; yesterday i saw an asshole shop keeper beat the shit out of a street kid. The first thing i saw that actually made me want to cry.

But there are positive things as well. The people here are sooo deeply spiritual, a certain wisdom seeps out. Hinduism can be very beautiful and the people have such a reverence for their parents, the ganga, guests, cows, hehe. It can be such a pleasure talking to them. Sometimes i'm disillusioned by their words, such as listening to a Jain talk about how he believes in non-violence, then to see him slap a kid across the face... but other than that, lol. Talking to the women can be an amazing experience. Cultural difference make it difficult for the men to relate to us, but the women are so warm and open, it melts my heart. There is something about bonding with other women that makes the trip what it is. The Family i stayed with in Sarnoth was wonderful. They threw a birthday party for Robin and I, flowers everywhere, tons of sweets and never ending food snacks, haha. The two girls dressed us all (robin, lauren, me) up in Sari's and took a million pictures! The youngest son Ankit would lead us around town all day, he became our little brother and their mother became Mami. ^_^ They invited us to come back in a few years for the oldest sisters wedding (not yet arranged?). The oldest brother, about 17, was a very sweet kid, preparing to go to school for comerse. They were a Jain family, so very very peacefull. I fell in love with them. They made me love India.

As it is, i have a love hate relationship with India. Beautiful and vibrant, but grey, dirty and cover in garbage and feces of every species. deeply spiritual, but full of cruelty.
I honestly can not wait to go to Dharamsala.

I just got the camera! Thank you Dad! I would call you and say thanks, but it is almost 2 in the morning for you :P

sooo Here are some pictures of the shanti guest house. this place is sort of a home base for us. it is really beautiful and the wall decorations are works of art (maybe i can figure out home to do this sort of thing to walls?)

Last night we took a night train back to Bangkok and it was the most uncomfortable ride ever. One girl said it was worse than the Indian trains. At one point, i was trying to get comfortable leaning my head against the window, and a cockroach crawled by my face. I leaned back and poked Jason to show him, he might have said, "oh," so i shrugged and watched the little bug untill it crawled out of sight, then laid my head back down. Nothing i could do about it. I hear the Indian trains are worse, but at least you can lay down. ^_^ I think I'm used to those critters by now, could be much worse. ... knock on wood.

early tomorrow morning!!!! I'm headed for India. This is going to be the climax i think, from what i hear about Kolkata. Yall wish me luck.

house of the setting sun

i loved the way kelsey suggested starting a paper on this- "Holy herpes!" Alex exclaimed. (true quote). We looked at the parking lot full of dozens of mopeds and motorcycles. Men, who must have been security, stood around outside the joint, a fancy massage and shower parlor... The entrance was brightly lit with a pond fountain sitting between two marble staircases the rise and meet in the middle where there are two doors: on open to a lounge and the other masked in etched glass. On the entrance wall there are rows of faces of beautiful girls. All of us were a little giddy, wanting to see what is going on inside. While we stand and wait for our friend to pay the tuk-tuk driver, we take a peek through the glass and are stunned by what we see. A group of young normal looking men come up the stairs behind us. Our friend says something to them in Thai, they sorta chuckle and reply, then go inside the etched doors. The doors swinging open, we get a much better view of the girls sitting behind a glass window, displayed on red tiers and looking incredibly bored. Men sit in the semi shadows, drinking and picking out girls. We end up going into the bar and looking at them from a booth, feeling like sheep in wolves clothing, disturbed and sick. We have to leave, all of us more than a little disgusted by the men- especially western men- in this place. The next place we go to is a "go-go" bar. Another disgusting place. But here the waitress explains to us how the two venues work (having worked at both places) and gives us details, some we wish we never heard. When we get back to the guest house we sit and work out the emotional impact we each had from this experience. The guide said he suddenly understood why some women hate men. The Thai girl said she was disturbed that some of these girls had a college education (because that is supposed to save you from that sort of life!). It was interesting and eye opening, but it left my mind and heart in a dark place, so for the durration of this trip, i am done with such investigations. Now on to better things.

back in chang mai

I went to a perma-culture project called the Panya Project. The place was stock full of hot westerners with various world accents. I descovered in that place a way to make the world more sustainable, and that i have a new path to search out and learn about. one that might not be at the university, but then again it might. after that, we skipped on to Chang dao where i fell in love with the children at the aids orphanage. one kid in particular stood out, and i adore him forever. if i can ever come back to thailand, that might be where i start, volunteering at the orphanage. it was a strange experience to have these little kids hanging all over you, enjoying you even though you can not understand what they say, and calling us all moms and dads. then to have their teacher point out, yes he's positive, she's positive. they are so healthy though, in spite of the HIV state they were born into. But they all take care of each other and had so much enthusiasm on their annual sports day. it was a ton of fun, and very exciting. the kids loved it when we played a game of basketball with the teachers. i'm happy for the experience.

okay people, start commenting and telling me what has been up with your lives too!!!

love ya's

Lacey