Culture Shock (Reversed)

It's been a few days now since I arrived home. Not too many people know this, but every time I fly through airports I like to play little games with other people to keep myself entertained without spending any money. During my flight to India back in September I decided that people don't smile enough and set out to make as many strangers smile during my 5 hour layover in Minneapolis and 6 hour layover in Amsterdam. I ended up loosing track of how many people smiled back at me after only a couple hours but I'll consider that a good thing. Not only did it keep me entertained without spending money but I'm hoping it made someones day a little better when I was able to put a smile on their face.

On the way back from India, seeing as how I was constantly getting searched and questioned by security on my flights to India in September, I thought I'd dress as someone who fits the typical stereotype of a possible threat to airport security. I wanted to see how dressing in a foreign cultures clothing and having my ungroomed beard would play into the 'random' security checks and the racism of airport authorities. When I was in India, towards the end of the trip, everyone asked me if I was Muslim so that's the look I went for on my flight home as I was sure it would cause problems when going through the USA. I was quite surprised with the results of my little game.  I got through security at Amsterdam quicker then I had before and absolutely flew through the USA's security check, faster than any of the other people in my line. Sure I got a lot of stares as I waited for planes during my layovers, but it was nothing in comparision to the stares you get in India. Actually, I'm pretty certain that India took more pictures of me than I took of it.

Back home, my dog and a lot of snow.

Now that I am back home in Canada I'm facing some (reverse) culture shock similar to my first week in India. The structure to everything, the absolute quietness, and the way people isolate themselves from others is chipping away at my nerves. I'm not really sleeping yet. Wide awake every night until well into the next day, it's taking a long time to get my body back to its original time zone. Driving on the icy Canadian roads is stressful, I'd take an Indian road over an icy road any day. I'm glad to see family, old friends, and familiar faces once again. I have just over one week to prepare for a conference I'm facilitating and after three months of no responsibilities getting down to work has proven difficult.

I'm hoping that this is all just the effects of reverse culture shock but it almost feels like I don't belong here, I'm already looking forward to my future travels.

Almighty Agra

The train ride from Varanasi to Agra, although only 14 hours, seemed to drag on forever. I booked a berth on the highest class available (AC2), splurging the extra $14 to have a clean(ish) toilet to be hunched over. I'm still quite sick but am slowly getting my energy back. Hopefully tomorrow I will be back to 100%.

As for Agra, it has been quite a surprise. For such a 'touristy' city it lacks the high prices and high concentration of Caucasians I was expecting. After a cheap rickshaw ride, 50rs, from the railway station to the south gate of the Taj Mahal I started my search for a hostel room for the next couple nights. It wasn't long before I came across the 'Shanti Hotel' were I was able to get a nice room for a refreshing price after some bargaining. (for 333rs/night I'm getting a big room with cable tv, double bed, fan, couch, and attached bathroom with 24hr hot water)

The rooftop restaurant/lounging area of my hostel has one of the best views of the Taj Mahal. I have yet to decide when I'm going to see it up close but with such a steap admission price, 750rs($16), I'm going to wait till I'm feeling a bit better and can enjoy it for a good half a day. When I'm feeling more budget conscious I can walk merly 50 feet from my hostel for some 15rs($0.30) breakfast (toast, eggs, fruit, and tea) or 30rs($0.60) for a mid-day thali (a traditional meal like we ate in the ashram).

Random moment of the day: I found a gate leading into an empty park around 500 meters west of the Taj Mahal and went for a wonder. I found a shady rusty and decrepit tower that I climbed for a great view of all the surrounding city and a few exotic birds that were running around the park. When I finally decided to leave I discovered the gate I came through, the only gate in the park surrounded by a high wall, was locked. Turns out it was a scam. There was an old lady who locked me in and only let me go when I promised her money (she wanted 500rs).  This is one of the few times I've lost my temper in India. I after yelling at here for a minute I threw 3rs($0.06) in a nearby pile of cow feces and spit on it. I'm getting rather sick of how many people try to trick and scam you everywhere you go. But the number of bad experiences has always been vastly outweighed by the good, so there is still a smile on my face, regardless of what happens.

Still alive!

Hey guys, sorry for the lack of updates over the past little while. I left the ashram a few days ago but things have gotten hectect as I was, and still am, trying to straighten things out for the rest of my trip.

I am taking a train tonight that will put me right around the middle of India tomorrow if everything goes according to plan. It's an overnight train so I will be writing a few posts to recape the ashram experiance and everything that has happened since then. You can look forward to some new posts starting tomorrow!

I have lots of writing to do so I'm off.

Cheers!

Day 12: Worst Case Scenario

Today started off great but ended with one of my worst fears coming true.

Four other travelers and I where planning to leave for the ruins in Hampi this Wednesday but those plans aren't looking so good for me anymore.

For those of you who don't already know I have type 1 Diabetes (Juvenile onset via my genetics) and use an insulin pump to control it. Yesterday my pump stopped working because of moisture/water that got inside of it, as soon as I got back to my hostel I took out a back-up pump I brought only to find out it no longer works. I'm currently on my 'back-up back-up' plan but it's a method I haven't used for a good 10 years now.

Things are a bit rough right now but I've decided to stay in India and work out for a new insulin pump to be shipped to me here in Goa, India. I will be staying in Goa trying to keep things under control until the new insulin pump arrives. They said it will hopefully be here by the end of the week, if I contact the Canadian Consulate to get customs to put it through quickly. Once it arrives I will be able to continue my travels in India and will head down south.

- Simon

Day 3: Still in Mumbai

I keep loosing track of what day it is. Once again only got 2-3 hours of sleep, if that, as I was up all night sweating and researching where to go next.

I went down for breakfast at a simple restaurant next door to my hostel and decided to start up a conversation with a fellow who looked like he had been traveling for a while. Turns out his name is Matthew, from the UK, and he is just finishing his time in India after six months. He was more than happy to share his experiences both good and bad with me. He has traveled to every populated continent and said India has been, by far, the most difficult place he's stayed. He told me about his first week, trusting those he shouldn't have, loosing all his money, breaking down and wanting to give up then finding a way to turn it into his favorite most exciting trip yet.

It was exactly what I needed. During my first few days in India I have experienced some major break downs mixed in with some of the most wonderful moments. India seems to be a land of contrast, always switching back from one extreme to the other in every way possible. Last night I wondered why I was even in India and if I should just go somewhere else, or back home. After talking with Mathew I was re-energized, he said the best way to cope with the chaos is to simply "let it all go and just go with the flow".

I had to run some errands on my own today, the most exciting was booking a ticket at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (prevously known as the Victoria Trainstation). The trainstation is a World Heritage site, of UNESCO, as well as the busiest in the world with more than 2 million people passing through it each day!

Week almost 3 weeks of not shaving

All of Mumbai is a maze of sorts, but being a foreign tourist has its benefits. Whenever I am lost someone will ask me where I'm looking for, if they don't know where it is they will find someone who does. Always taken with a grain of salt, but so far 95% of the locals are very friendly (with the other 5% being on the contrasting side).

No pictures today as I left my camera in my room, so instead i"ll throw in one with an update on my beard. (See picture to the right)

I have a train booked for mid(ish) next week.. hmm.. I really need to keep track of dates better. Until then I'll keep exploring the urban jungle that is Mumbai.

Last minute packing frenzy!

I have been running around all day trying to get my last minute errands done while also meeting friends over coffee and eating as much beef as possible.

I'm still not packed, but it's getting closer. I won't be posting an exact list of what I'm taking right now as I still have so much to do and time is in limited supply.

Here is a picture of my current progress:

Cutting down and reorganizing my gear.

10 hours till departure!

Seven days and counting..

I woke up this morning to a slight churn in my stomach.

After months of talking about, and saving for, this trip it seemed more like a far away idea than a reality. It wasn't until this morning that it hit me; there are now only seven days until I leave for India, with no predetermined plans taking only what I am willing to carry on my back.

I'm incredibly excited to see what lies ahead, 7 days till departure.

Why haven't I started planning yet?

It's amazing how quickly time passes.

My departure date is approaching faster than could have I expected. Only a few days ago it seemed as if I had an abundance of time for planning and preparation, but that feeling has now faded. I feel an odd mixture of being overwhelmed from all the planning and researching I should be doing yet relaxed knowing that soon I will be free from the constraints of our society; being able to partake in whatever, and go wherever, I want to.. everyday.

Truth is I haven't put much time into piecing together an itinerary of any sort.

Just over a month until I leave for India.. Still so many things to sort out.

Wish me luck.