Merry Christmas!

I'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas, wherever you may be. I'd also like to thank my friends for all their, sometimes drunk, text messages and phone calls from around the world.  Giving holiday wishes and kind reminders that they are still traveling some exotic lands while I'm back home in the freezing Canadian prairies..

It will be just over a week until I'm back in my home city again and I have a post that will have to wait till then. I will be looking into my half unpacked bags to see what actually made it through the entire trip with me, what items I would never have survived without and which I would never take with me again.

Till then happy holidays!

Remember to eat, drink, and be jolly!

Dancing, Cake, and Capitalism: Election Time

I had just finished checking some train details at an internet cafe when a huge crowd of cheering people with music and signs crowded me on the streets in Fort Kochi. I’ve gotten use to the rule of dancing first and asking questions later, so I joined the crowd of cheerful locals as we danced and cheered our way down the street.

The festivities were in celebration of the local independent party winning the in the state elections. I’m glad to be here when it happened as it is the first time in 30 years, according to the locals, that the communist party is no longer in power.

After dancing I got free cake, which also happened back in Mumbai, I have no idea what type of cake it was or how to explain its taste. Maybe it was influenced by the heart warming feeling of capitalism overtaking communism, but the cake was delightful.

Day 1: Hello Mumbai

I woke up around 5pm, not hungry even though it's been a while since I've ate, but thirsty. The thick Mumbai air sits on me like an unwanted blanket as I laid in my bed sweating profoundly. I had bought four 1L bottles of water the night before, for 15rs($0.30) each. I turned on my tv and then an odd music grew louder. At first i thought it was one of my neighbors playing music, but then with a loud BANG it became evident. There was a festival out on the street! I have arrived in Mumbai during their biggest 11 day festival, for the goddess Ganesh.

Pretty sure that's shaving cream. But they, whatever works.

I ran out of my room to the common balcony area . This is were I ran into Nathan, he is from the UK(studying in Seattle) and was on my plane from Amsterdam to Mumbai the night before!  We decided to go down to the street and getting a better view. It was my first experience crossing a busy street in Mumbai. Traffic weaved in and out swiftly, as did we, while crossing. We made it!

A Mumbai street, they are ALL busy..

On of the many groups I danced with!

We followed those celebrating for a block then wondered off on our own down the crowed market streets. Several hours, and many memories later, i arrive back in my hostel. I will try to post pictures because there was so much more done today than i can explain in words. The locals are very friendly for the most part. I danced with several groups of indians who where eager to teach my their dancing on the streets.

After arriving back at the hostel I went for supper next door with Nathan. We ordered 'veg' dishes in an attempt to stop sickness, as i write this is has been a couple hours since I ate and i'm still feeling good.

Sorry for the lack of editing, but my netbook is about to die and I don't have an adapter to plug it in yet. Wait.. how will i set an alarm for tomorrow? Gah, so many things I took for granted back home.

Fireworks are everywhere, how is Mumbai not burnt down yet?

I have no idea what tomorrow will bring but i look forward to finding out.

Hope all is well back home.