Greetings from India!
Sorry the Blog updates have not been frequent, but we have been fairly busy so far.
We are safe and healthy in India, so breathe easily. Our trip was long, but not too difficult. Luckily, we got to spend some time walking around Amsterdam during our layover. If you are worried that your child wndered the streets of Amsterdam on New Years, then take heart that about half of the group hung out in the airport and that our professors went with us.
We arrived in India at midnight on January 2nd. It was too late to do anything, so we went to our hotel for some much needed sleep. The hotel rooms were nicer than I expected, about on par with a motel 8 in the states. the main difference between American hotels and this one was the bathroom. They had a western style toilet, but instead of a shower with “hot” and “cold” knobs, there was “cold” and “hypothermia” knobs.
The girls slept two to a room in dorm-room sized areas. Eric, Peter, and I had a very romantic stay in the honeymoon suite surrounded by heart-shaped pillows and other amenities.
The next morning we started our drive to Rishakesh, one of the holiest cities in India (some would say in the world). Traffic here is actually insane, but amazing. The streets are overly crowded by everything from rickshaws to cows to tour buses. There are no discernible traffic laws, much less lines in the road, yet traffic seems to flow smoothly. There is a heavy reliance on horns to make traffic work. It took some observation and a few questions answered by our driver, but it seems as if a horn in India means “Hey, Im here, just letting you know,” rather than the common usage in the states of “#$%@.” Traffic has its own logic here, which I have now seen is slightly indicative of life in India so far. It has a logic if you take the time to figure it out, but otherwise it is just overwhelming.
We had lunch half-way to Rishikesh at a place that I think was called Chettall Grand. It was, and I may take some poetic license here, Epic. The food was better than I even considered having in India, despite being such a fan of their cuisine. It put westernized version of Indian food to shame. After a fully satisfying meal, we climbed back on the bus.
We got to the Ashram at about 5pm. It is in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, which are supposedly dwarfed by the rest of the mountain range. The foothills we can see, however, are larger than any mountains I have ever seen. This Ashram (basically a school for meditation and yoga) is a beautiful place. It is hard to explain, but it seems to fit perfectly. The ashram itself is filled with unspectacular buildings set in an impoverished neighborhood, but the total effect of it is astounding.
We took an introduction class on meditation and breathing practices before being allowed to go to bed in our cottages. If the Delhi hotel(i) was like a motel 8, these are solid Days Inn quality. For our Maryville friends, these are like Beeson to Delhi’s Copeland. Basically, they are nice. The nicest part may be the warm water.
This ashram, by the way, is similar to the one that the Beatles came to seeking enlightenment, so don’t be surprised if I go platinum upon my return to the states. Watch out world, the fab 17 is on its way.
The last few days have been eventful, from playing my (and I think everyone’s) first game of cricket to seeing a fire ceremony on the banks of the Ganges at a temple to Shiva. We met Swami Veda, one who many see as one of the most enlightened teachers in the world and got an opportunity to ask him questions about life in general as well as his spiritual practices. Even if you do not subscribe to his way of thinking (and I don’t) he is an impressive man. His answers were insightful and well thought out. We also got a chance to go shopping in downtown Rishikesh. I did not buy too much, because I was told it was kind of like shopping in Knoxville before traveling to New York and Chicago, but my family (ok, just Katie) will be glad to know that I can bring back an entire extra suitcase with me. The prices are amazingly cheap in real terms, but are shocking to see. I have never bought a shirt more expensive than $40, but now I have bought something for 350 rupees. It is kind of jarring to be using what is essentially monopoly money, but the deals are insane if you find them. I am personally looking forward to flexing my “haggling” muscle in the next two weeks.
So far, jet lag has been annoying (for everyone except for me actually, I haven’t been tired yet, even at night) but manageable. No one has been sick yet, which is awesome. Also surprising is that we are not at each others throats yet. Im sure scuffles are bound to happen, but our group has been very cohesive thus far.
We have a full schedule in front of us, including a trip to one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites on the Ganges river, a place that millions of people think of as the very cradle of both spirituality and civilization itself. Myself and three others (they shouldn’t be too hard to guess if you know your children well) plan on full submersion sort of pilgrimage, despite the frigid temperature. As Hannah put it, “You don’t come five thousand miles to dip your feet in the water.” I am looking forward to it.
I would expect the updates to be about as frequent as they have been so far (once every three-four days, whenever we have internet) but please keep on checking back. Leave comments and they will be relayed to your loved one.
Before I sign off, there is a very important message from Dr. Bay, our fearless leader, to Molly and Johannah: “I love you very much and miss you every day. I am proud of you and cannot wait to see you again soon.”
And one from myself: “Mom and Dad, we have seen many different things so far, but each of them has served to remind me of how very lucky I am to have your love, care and support. I appreciate and envy everything you have done as parents, and I hope one day I can be half as loving as you have been to me. We talked a lot about Karma, and I must have lived an amazing life to deserve such a nurturing and loving family. Katie and Chris, thank you for being there for me continually, giving advice and warnings. I look up to both of you, and miss you every day. To my friends, hang in there without me, I will be home before too long. Don’t form memories without me!
The next few days involve some more exploration in this area, another game of cricket, a dip in the most sacred river in the world, visits to a hospital and orphanage, and a voyage into a jungle to visit a tiger reserve. Stay tuned, and we love and miss you all.
Nameste (I recognize and appreciate the divine in you) and we look forward to hearing from you all.
