deyana as guest
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Post by deyana as guest on Mar 3, 2013 18:43:18 GMT
Hola from the extreme heat of goa. We arrived here a couple of days ago, from mumbai. It's hard to put into just a few words what I have so far seen in india. But some phrases keep popping out of my mouth more than a few times. Phrases like. 'What kind of fresh hell is this' as well as ,wow, how incredible'. I'm so glad I have kept a diary of this trip, there is just too much and so much to note note and look back on. Each day is an adventure, and because we are travelling so far and wide, the differences we see from place to place are vast. I know I won't have time to make some kind of proper photo essay of this trip until autumn. But I promise it will be done eventually. Sometimes I still wonder what the heck I'm doing out here, to be honest india has been and is more of a challenge and more of an adventure than I could ever have imagined. I read somewhere that to get the real feel of india do it all like the locals. This we have done. We travel like the locals and have certainly some eye popping, sad, touching and funny things. The difference being of course we (usually) stay in quite nice hotels, while others do not. We also get to eat in air conditoned restraunts, while most of the population do not have that choice. I get to feeling somewhat guilty about this.... We,re having a bit of a break here in goa, in about a week we will be kerela. It was around 37c here today and getting hotter by the day. Not something this canadian handled easily. :-) Off to colva beach tomorrow, looking forward to swimming in the ocean. Hopefully will avoid most of the sharks
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2013 18:47:17 GMT
Really good to hear from you again -- I was wondering if you were in prison or something.
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Post by tod2 on Mar 3, 2013 19:21:15 GMT
Hello Deyana! Yes, my sentiments also - good to get word! I know how you are sweating it out as we have been experiencing the same 37-39C. For me, that's too hot so I can't imagine you are enjoying it and must love jumping in the hotel pool or cooling off in your aircon room. I admire your 'travel transport' and think you are complimenting your trip by sleeping and eating in comfort. Heavens I know I can't eat when the thermometer is nearly hitting 40C! Thinking of you and look forward to reading all about it oneday
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Post by mich64 on Mar 4, 2013 1:07:52 GMT
I am looking forward to your more in depth record of this adventure Deyana. Your perspective and witnessing them with your sons.
You are on vacation/holiday, do not feel guilty for finding nice accommodations and enjoying meals out with your family and new friends! I am sure you worked very hard to save the money to take this journey, enjoy every moment of it.
Cheers!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2013 4:29:12 GMT
Kerouac, you funny guy . No not in prison, have avoided it so far. Although there were a few times here that I could have cheerfully strangled a few 'officals'. Hiya tod and mich, thanks for keeping me in your thoughts. :-) I told my kids just the other day 'forget about the old wild west' this here is the real thing. We are walking around in living history.' My sons are not spolied in any way' they are tough lads and are very protective of me and each other. They paid for their own tickets to india. It's possible to stay in quite nice places etc. For just a fraction of the price it would cost in canada, which makes travelling here in india a good option both for budget travellers and for those who prefer to stay in the starred hotels. We do tend to avoid food from street vendors, the couple of times we tried it I felt sick after, and that's no fun. Bottled water is a must, and just using common sense is the way to go. The boys are having a lay in, I'm usually the first one up. One thing I have learnt is just to go with the flow in india, as plans can and do change at any time. Tod, we,ve used all kinds of transport here, both the rickerty govenment type and others. There is something for everyone, even if you have few means, the choses are emmense. But it's true that if you want to rub sholders with the everyday folk and would like to get to know them and how they live their lives, you have to travel as they do. Mich, I will start working on the report for this trip soon. It might take me a while to sort though all the photos etc though. My son bought his camcorder with him, so some movies of crazy rickshaw rides to post up too!
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Post by mossie on Mar 4, 2013 8:29:59 GMT
Good for you Deyana. Enjoy your trip and your boys, you will have memories to last the rest of your life. And thanks for sharing with us
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deyana as guest
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Post by deyana as guest on Mar 4, 2013 17:49:36 GMT
The internet doesn't seem to be working properly.
Mossie, thanks for your continued encourgement :-)
I'm happy to share this trip on here, the good, bad and all else it is.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2013 18:09:55 GMT
How can you say that the internet is not working properly? Everybody knows that just about all internet tech in the rest of the world comes straight from India now!
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deyana as a guest again
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Post by deyana as a guest again on Mar 4, 2013 18:25:31 GMT
Well, where the heck are they when you need them. I wrote a total of three posts in reply to mossie and all got lost in cyberpace. Maybe it's time bed, get some rest. Off to explore panjim, the capital of goa tomorrow. Good night!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2013 18:29:34 GMT
Yes, it is definitely bed time in India!
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Post by auntieannie on Mar 4, 2013 19:31:41 GMT
yes, the heat will get worse until the monsoon starts. eat yoghurt with a pinch of salt & pepper or raita to help. mint also has a cooling effect on the body.
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Post by lugg on Mar 4, 2013 20:21:30 GMT
Thank you for your up-date. It sounds like you and your sons are really enjoying your adventures together in India. I too am looking forward to your fuller reports and photos, when you get chance .
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2013 4:07:23 GMT
My gosh I just discovered that there is a computer here for my use, right in the lobby of my hotel. No need to struggle with my tablet (for now anyway) It's good to stay put in on city for a while, I'm feeling well rested and quite human again. Annie, you are spot on. Yogurt is a really good food, with all the good bacteria, unfortunately finding a supermarket that sells the one with pro-biotics seems near enough impossible right now. You're welcome lugg, even with all my moaning, I'm glad I came on this trip, I can see myself coming back to explore more of the country when I get the time. Like many others before me I guess I'm hooked
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 6, 2013 12:05:46 GMT
HI, Deyana! Glad to see you're enjoying! 37C?! In March? Well, it's only going to get hotter now- but today felt like Monsoon in Bangalore- overcast, slight drizzle, fairly humid, cool.
I hope this trip gives you all possible dimensions of India!
Cheers.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2013 15:33:38 GMT
Hi ansh, it's been unbelievably hot here in goa, over 37c again today. I didn't realise that March is the hottest month here. Hope all is well where you are. I'm trying to upload a few pics I wanted to share onto photobucket, it's working very very slowly. I can't seem to find the button to post one pic at a time on here
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Post by Kimby on Mar 6, 2013 20:13:03 GMT
Hi ansh, it's been unbelievably hot here in goa, over 37c again today. I didn't realise that March is the hottest month here. Hope all is well where you are. I'm trying to upload a few pics I wanted to share onto photobucket, it's working very very slowly. I can't seem to find the button to post one pic at a time on here Can you post to APIAS's Facebook page directly from your phone or tablet? Then you could upload pics w/o photo hosting site. Also, if you have threads on Meeting Pot or Sunny Days, you could post links here and we could visit your photos there. So glad you are getting to enjoy this trip and your sons. Looking forward to the full report.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2013 20:22:15 GMT
How many more days in India? I think the worst of the rising temperatures has passed.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2013 11:24:14 GMT
Kimby, a full report of the trip, from start to finsh will be done' I promise. I have a really good and varied collecion of photos to post up.
It seems that the wifi here just isn't strong enough to host any photos, I have tried all kinds of photo hosting sites' maybe I will have more luck in kerela. The boys are doing fine, I'm sure this a trip they will never forget. :-)
Kerouac, I have a feeling this is here to stay, probably get hotter yet...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2013 11:36:07 GMT
One more month in india, kereaoc. Looks like we won't have time to go west. (Pondincherry, kolkata etc). That will have to be another trip. After kerela' we,ll start heading north again though bangalore, after will head towards the ellora caves and so forth'. Funnily enough my kids tell me they would like to spend at least one more week in delhi. Thr city is crazy in; so many ways, but a very interesting place that deserves a closer look. Delhi has a vibe of it,s own, it's quite electric, although challenging.
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 7, 2013 11:36:19 GMT
Unfortunately it's April/till mid May which are the hottest times of the year around this area- but 37C is exceptionally hot for Goa in March... Where will you be in end of May, Deyana?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2013 11:59:25 GMT
Anah, I'm told that 37c. Is really hot for goa, we are in a heat wave.
End of may I will be back in canada! Actually before that, by mid april. I know the snow will still be on the ground even then. :-)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2013 12:36:30 GMT
You will probably want to roll around in the snow when you get back. Then you won't like it after 5 minutes.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2013 15:00:02 GMT
You are probably right about that Kerouac. But right now I most certainly am missing the snow. The heat here in Cochin, Kerala is intense to say the least. A few degrees below Goa, but sweltering never the less. I like Kerala though. Full of palm trees and very green. I'm told it's voted as one of the 'top ten paradises in the world'. Anyhow, I have a little time, so I am posting from an internet cafe right now. I thought I would share a few of the photos that I have taken previously of the different areas of the country. Just odd pictures that caught have my eye. We'll be here for a few days, before setting off North again. Planning on doing a boat trip through the canals, here we can see local people and how they fish, live and the kind of huts they live in by river. This picture is of my house in the old village in the Punjab. This is where I was born, and as you can tell it needs a lot of work: We walked past this calf tied up somewhere in the old village. Of course my first thoughts are: where is it's drinking water, who to I have to bug to make sure the poor thing is not dehydrated. My sister lives a about a mile out away from the old village in what used to be the farm lands (it still is in some parts). She likes flowers and plants. Here to one side in the veranda are various plants, including cactus. And some that I could not name. Maybe one of our avid gardeners on here might be able to tell us what they could be: Agra Fort. I enjoyed viewing this Fort. More pics of it later. The liked the way the monkeys would peek out behind parts of the building to take a look at you. The Golden Temple in Amritsar. A beautiful temple, but not easy to get to:
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 11, 2013 15:16:37 GMT
Hi, Deyana!
Did you ask your family if they take any special measures in May/Jun, when the temps skyrocket? Eg, both my parents' families used to sleep on the roof- in Delhi. My dad's family further used to spray water on the roof and the beds at evening- night temps still lingered around 28-30C in May/June.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2013 15:33:32 GMT
Hi ansh My family did tell me that it gets extremely hot, even up North in the Punjab. My sisters house does have a roof, it's quite a large place, and is designed in a way that shade can be utilized to a good degree. Spraying water is sometimes the only way to cool down, if you spend any time outside. The temps here are through the roof, hard to handle, I wonder if they will get cooler somewhat as we head North soon? Where abouts are you now Ansh?
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 12, 2013 1:05:05 GMT
I see, thanks. I am very much in Bangalore itself, becoming warmer here. Daily highs of around 33-34C, while predictions for the near future are 36C.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2013 5:17:21 GMT
Fantastic photos, Deyana! Is your birthplace still in the family? It looks like your sister must have a very nice place (the higher the walls, the nicer the place! ). If I lived in a sunny warm place, I would certainly want to grow some plants, too, even if they had to stay in pots.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2013 7:03:20 GMT
ansh, I think our next stop will be Bangalore. And it looks like there will be no escape from the high temperatures for me. We have thunderstorms predicted here in Cochin, which is a relief in a way... Thank, Kerouac Yes, the birth place is still in the family, actually is belongs to me now. What to do with it though, I'm not sure. I want to keep it, as it's been in the family for a very long time. When I was born another house used to stand there, that was replaced around 25 or so years ago and sadly it seems as everyone has moved away and it is no longer maintained, has come into disrepair. A few people have moved into the farmlands, my sister and her husband built the most beautiful house/mansion there. I do have pics of it, couldn't locate them yesterday, but will put one up when I do the full essay later on. The price for farm lands themselves have gone through the roof, I talking about in the 100,000's dollar mark. I was quite astonished to learn just how expensive land has become now that it is in the developmental category. The plants are a really nice touch, my sister also has orange trees in the landscaped garden and other exotic plants. And the birds! Parrots flying around free and landing on the roof, just waiting to be photographed. In Agra we of course went to see the Taj Mahal, I was happy to see so many monkeys running around free. A couple of them really freaked me out though, they have these huge round eyes and stare you down if you look at them, it made me wonder if they were getting ready to jump on us!
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 12, 2013 11:49:57 GMT
Nice pictures! Did you go to the Wagah Border crossing in Amritsar?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2013 13:32:25 GMT
Thanks ansh, still using that old camera.I did indeed go to the border crossing, It was a lot of fun and much better than I expected it to be. I have quite a few pics of it and will posting them all in the 'big essay' that will be doing.
India has surpassed every idea that had of it. It's been quite amazing.
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