I didn't know that I had planned an advanced level travel trip. I didn't even know that there were leves. But now that I think of it, yes, India is for advanced travelers for sure.
I left for the South West state of Kerala India, India going through Seoul and Bangkok. In Bangkok I got a room near the airport to wait for my evening flight through Sri Lanka to india. It was a long series of flights. I did that so that I could fly into the South of India and leave from the North possibly 6 months later. I started my trip here because I would start out volunteering for a program called Wellbeing. Wellbeing matches volunteer ayurvedic doctors with lower income patients for appointments once a month. India is a very ayurvedic country with ayurvedic products (healthy, natural), treatments, I even bought ayurvedic shampoo. It’s wonderful! When I arrived, the organization was preparing for a private audience with His Holiness the Dali Lama (HHDL) along with another organization The Friends of Tibet. It was a thank you to the doctors and patients who had participated in the Wellbeing Program.
The Catholic Retreat Center, Ashirbhaven
Since this is winter and the monsoons have stopped, the weather is still humid and the temperatures are in the low 90's. The state of Kerala is not like othera areas in India. The Southern part of India is green, tropical and peaceful compared to the dryer more hectic parts of the rest of India. If this was peaceful, I’m glad I started in Kerala. I found it crazy with motor vehicles everywhere in gridlock, honking horns, drivers coming within millimeters of motor scooters with a family of 4 on it (including infants), drivers on the left side of the road making it more difficult to cross streets, cars never stopping for pedestrians even in cross walks, hot weather, not being able to find anything, people all over, it was exhausting.
I'm glad I don't do dishes here. All this for one meal.
Notice how they have me 4 spoons. They aren't sure how I'm going to
use them as they don't use silverware.
I love their saris and shalwar kamiz.
My only retreat from all of this was actually the Retreat Center where I was staying. In the early 1500's, the Portuguese ships came here for trading, spices and proseyltizing. Eventually the area became know for exporting peacocks and spices to it's Northwest neighbors. As a result, this is the only predominantly Catholic area in of all of India. Wellbeing arranged for me to stay at this Catholic Retreat center in the middle of a large block. It has palm trees, birds, it’s quiet aside from the morning singing masses which are pleasant. It's so peaceful, green and wonderful! The minute I left the center, it was crazy sidewalks to scale, honking cars all over, people all over, hot heat and once again overwhelming; two very opposite experiences, like night and day.
Outside my window. Entertaining myself over the seven days.
Since I had time to explore, I went for a walk to get something to eat. The food is wonderful. I love the rice pancakes and the sampam sauce in the morning. The tea and milk or coffee isn’t bad either. The vegetarian food is fantastic! Much better than the chicken or rice that you can also get. The sidewalks are horrendous. They make Mexico’s sidewalks look orderly. While I was walking, I looked forward to make sure this unusual piece of sidewalk was flat while I looked at a poster on my right. What I didn’t see what that there was a 3-4” drop and I fell into it. Over I went. Some passerbys helped me up. I wasn’t far from the Retreat Center so I gingerly walked back. The more I walked, the more my foot and hand hurt. Another person from Wellbeing was also staying in the Center and he asked me how I was doing and I said not to good. I told him what happened.
So off to the Special Hospital we went for broken bones not far away and they took X-rays. Nothing was broken or fractured thank God. Many people also asked me if I hit my head. Apparently many people die falling on the sidewalks and hit their heads. They put a half cast on my foot, a wrist brace and crutches. They fixed me up so that at least I didn’t need a wheel chair.
My 1 1/2 pound mosquito net tent. A life saver!
The poles on each side are for hanging a mosquito net over but no net is provided.
I was feeling a little clumsy until I saw a nun where I was staying in a wheel chair. She told me she also fell and had three fractures. It could have been a lot worse. It’s been about a week in healing sitting around in my room, catching up on possible routes and things to see in India. Whatever I had before the accident was all that I had for a week. I managed to get some shampoo and laundry soap before the fall but no 3G stick for internet. It’s been very strange not being able to talk to anyone. Only one time someone lent me their connection and I was able to send some email.
I made it. My crutches are on the side of my chair.
The coming of HHDL was a very big event here. Equivalent to a presidential arrival. The streets were cordoned off, traffic was jammed, and he had a set of body guards. I couldn't understand the excitement considering this was a Catholic area. It was explained to me that that all of India has a history of Buddhism and he is very highly respected throughout the country...like royalty.
So I am almost to
the point of being able to travel again. It has been a good stay. I am thankful
for so many things. First of all, a
tranquil place to stay that gives me food.
Also, I was able to participate at the audience with the Dali Llama. And the many things I had
along with me to entertain myself for a week including my computer, my ipod, my
book to read, and my travel books to catch up on. My gadgets and supplies came in handy too
like my mosquito net tent (there are no nets here but plenty of mosquitoes at
night), my mosquito spray, my water bottles….ahhhh, life is good.
The Dali Lama laughing at his own joke.
He's a funny guy.
