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Post by fumobici on Mar 12, 2013 18:36:28 GMT
Youtube Wagah Crossing to see some of the ceremonies. Fascinating.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2013 7:25:15 GMT
They are, fumobici. I was previously considering putting up a youtube video of one. But, actually, I took one myself, which I will put up on my account on youtube and post up on here. More of a personal view that way.
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Post by lola on Mar 16, 2013 0:01:49 GMT
Really like the photos, deyana.
Also the "what fresh hell" vs "how interesting" comment.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2013 11:49:52 GMT
Thanks lola. I've now stopped saying the 'what kind of fresh hell is this' comment as I've seen so many things here in India, after a while I think a person tends to not see it the same way any more, or we simply become hardened to what life is for most people here. I've found that people in general come across as harder or harsher (not really sure what the exact word is). My kids tell me I'm way too soft and they are probably right. I tell them I'm too old to change my ways now. I am who I am. But if you look closer and take the time to get to know the locals, you realize that they are only doing what they have to to survive out here. Because life is hard for the every day folk out here. Very hard indeed. It's the survival of the fittest, that's the bottom line. This is a country of over 1.2 billion people, and when I last checked it was quoted that 800 million of them live in poverty or just above poverty lines. So we are in Bangalore now (Hi Anash!). This city was meant to be just a stepping stone to the Ellora and Auganta caves in Arangnbad. But as usual nothing ever goes to plan here and we will be staying here for a few more days than we needed. Reason being that I couldn't get the train I wanted until the 19th. I guess I will look back and remember this city as the one where we rescued the two kittens. To cut a long story short, we found two tiny kittens tied up by rope, at a busy market. They were about 4 weeks old, no mamma cat in sight. They were tied to a large log, with no food or water in the intense heat. It was no less then torture for these two precious babies. They had fleas, ear mites, scabs, infected eyes and were skinny as can be. I asked around to see who owned them. A shop woman claimed they were hers, I tired to ask about the mom cat, but she only laughed. My sons are big softies and animal lovers and we all knew we had to do something. In the end she shooed me away and told me to take them with me. What to do? We went back to our hotel, trying to figure out how we could save those kittens, we knew soon they would be dead if we did nothing. We even thought about taking on the trip with us, this could have been near enough impossible, as hotels do not allow animals. We looked on the internet and discovered that there was an animal welfare society right here in Bangalore. We couldn't contact them that day, but decided it was the best shot these kittens had of survival. So that night we found a box, went back to the market, only to find the woman has let them go, I guess she might have hoped they would just run away or something. We heard them meowing, put them in them in the box and sneaked them back into our hotel. We washed them, gave them milk, cleaned their eyes best we could. Actually my son did most of the work and he fed them through the night as well. Their meow was like something I had never heard before. It sounded feral. It was also very loud, I knew we were risking being thrown out of the hotel. Thankfully with a lot of storking and attention they did settle down for the night. The next day we took them to the animal welfare soicety. I gave them quite a large donation and looked around to see where our kitties would be housed. It was no 5 star kittie hotel that's for sure. But they were safe, had food, water and we were told they would soon see a vet. I saw some of the most pitiful sights right there But at least they are trying. I asked them to take care of the various things that the kittens needed and I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. Tomorrow we will do a little bit of site-seeing, the temperatures here are much better. It was *only* 25c here last night. In the day it goes up to around 30c. Monkeys are everywhere here, they even came up to our hotel room where we fed them dates. I took a film of them, they are really something close up.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2013 11:55:56 GMT
You did the right thing for the kittens, even though I am not the least bit optimistic about the rest of their life. In any case, you got them a slightly better chance than they had before.
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 17, 2013 12:23:24 GMT
Hi, Deyana- at least Bangalore isn't that hot. Expect highs of around 34 for your stay. If you need any tips, feel free to ask me here; I'll help best as I can.
I think, the % below poverty line is around 35%; very sad. Rampant corruption means that any work being done is very slow.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2013 5:04:33 GMT
K, yes, it's true. I was told I was no allowed to inquire about the kittens once I had given them up. I found that kind of annoying and sad, but those are there rules. I hope they will find good homes...
ansh, corruption has to be the number one problem here in India. It's rampant as you say, if and when that ever gets sorted out, things will change for the people and for all the people, not just the well to do and well connected. Thanks for your help, we did a day of sight-seeing in Bangalore and there are some really nice areas as well, I will put up pics in the big essay.
Right now I am in Hyderabad. It's the city where bombs went off just a few weeks back. I heard about them (and so did the world), when I was in Goa a few weeks back. The security out here in the streets is unreal. This city reminds me of Agra but it's a much bigger version of. Just the streets and way of life here, the religion of the people here is very different. This city has over 41% Islamic people, which is a large number for India. Maybe the largest in India? I'm not sure without looking it up. It a huge bustling place full full of people.
I have a few hours before we board the train to Aurangabad, to see the caves. The heat here is rising, I guess it will continue to do so until the monsoons come. After which we might spend a bit more time in the two cities we haven't seen yet in Rajasthan and then to Delhi, hopefully with a week or so to spare, as I'd like to see more of it and do some shopping before heading back home to Canada.
I would certainly come back one day to India, to see the areas that I have missed (The East, North East and South East of the country). It's been and is quite the amazing experience.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2013 6:10:37 GMT
I was wondering, Deyana -- do you still speak any of the local languages, or is that lost in the mists of the past?
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 21, 2013 11:40:28 GMT
Hi Deyana - I would love to see your Bangalore pictures especially. Maybe I learn a few things.
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 22, 2013 20:33:42 GMT
Deyana, it was very compassionate you and your sons to take the time to do something for the kitties. It's nice to hear you don't let yourself become jaded by what you see. On another note, how are you liking the food there? Just curious because I happen to be hungry right now, and your thread has me thinking about hearty Indian meals.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2013 16:14:01 GMT
I was wondering, Deyana -- do you still speak any of the local languages, or is that lost in the mists of the past? Kerouac, I do speak Punjabi fluently and have been communicating in Hindi too, although that is harder for me. I have my mother to thank for teaching me Punjabi and for continuing to talk to me in the language. My mom and my Indian family. It's coming in very useful here indeed as you can imagine.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2013 16:26:35 GMT
Ansh, I will be posting up the pics of Bangalore and other places as soon as I can, but I doubt that I can teach you anything haha.... you must be joking right? Hi nycgirl, thanks, I did what I had to do. It would have played on my conscience has I not done something to help those poor little kittens. I seem to always be in that situation, I've had to save many a stray cat where I live in Canada too. I was telling my kids how much I would like to have the time to do something to really help that animal shelter in Bangalore... there is just so much that needs doing there. Maybe one day you never know... The food is here is fine on the whole. I'm learning everyday, what dish is what and have been ordering dishes that I have never tried before just to find out. Sometimes they are great, other times a disappointment. I don't really like too much spice in my food and in the South Especially I find it all to spicy, it got to the point where now I ask the waiter 'how spicy is it?'. I always feel like silly asking, but it's better than not being able to eat it because of too many chillies and what have you. Today, I went to a stall where they were cooking fresh omlettes in rolls, mmmm they were really good I don't usually buy food at stalls, but this one was busy and clean and so I thought I'd try it out. It was also a fraction of the price of restaurant food. I must admit I'm looking forward to having some good ol' roast beef with baked potatoes when I get back home.
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Post by mich64 on Mar 24, 2013 17:11:48 GMT
Deyana have you passed along the Punjabi language to your sons?
You certainly picked a good winter to be away, it has been long here in Canada this year. I will be thinking of you when I cook a roast with mashed potatoes and vegetables this week!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2013 17:45:22 GMT
One thing that I have often read about the "spicy food" countries (India, Mexico, Ethiopia... etc.) is that a large number of the local residents do not like spicy food either, even if that is not obvious to visitors. So just telling the food people that you want it not (or less) spicy is normally enough to get you something acceptable.
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 25, 2013 1:09:17 GMT
Hi Deyana, no I'm not joking. Being a local, I have not visited some of the more touristy places such as the Bangalore Palace. Would love to see where you went in this city, I guess you've been to some areas I haven't/rarely go to.
Kerouac, I generally dislike spicy food as well. And yes, in some places it is enough to say "less spicy" to avail of it, but doesn't work everywhere.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2013 11:40:18 GMT
Deyana have you passed along the Punjabi language to your sons? You certainly picked a good winter to be away, it has been long here in Canada this year. I will be thinking of you when I cook a roast with mashed potatoes and vegetables this week! Hi mich I have taught them a few words, and they are picking up a bit more of the language(s) while we have been here, but no, I've been very lazy about teaching them any Indian languages while they were growing up. Looking back I wish I had made more of an effort... hahaha..... yes, I have heard of all the really cold weather and snow over in Canada, I know it's been a bad one this year. It was definitely a good winter to go away. This trip was about 2 years in the making. Early 2012 I decided it was now or never, and tried to fit it in for the time I wanted. The visa was a tricky one, as I had no way of knowing when it would be issued, and I knew once it was it would be for a certain time only. Luckily it all fell into place in the end. I must admit I am missing the snow, never thought I'd find myself say that lol.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2013 11:46:58 GMT
Regarding spicy food, yes, many people don't like it too spicy, even in India. I find that it spoils the natural taste of the food. Too much spice makes everything taste the same. Ansh I did go to see the Palace, but it being Monday. was closed, I didn't realize that it would be until I got there. I took pics of the area, but could not get inside the palace and compound itself, which was a big disappointment for us. I got some good pics of the government buildings though and the Parliament buildings. Also went to see the museum in the area. Really wanted to see the Aquarium, I hear that it is the 2nd biggest in India, but when we got there, were told it was closed on Mondays as well.
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 25, 2013 14:28:52 GMT
Haha, I wasn't aware of any aquarium in Bangalore!
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Post by mich64 on Mar 25, 2013 14:36:02 GMT
and I can not imagine ever saying that! I have never taken a winter holiday south so I have no idea what it would even feel like to experience winter without lots of snow and cold. Glad to read that you and your boys are enjoying this amazing experience together.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2013 16:01:52 GMT
Ansh, you need to make a visit to the Aquarium. I really was disappointed in it being closed that day. It promised to be something very well worth seeing. Here is the link to it: www.bangaloreindia.org.uk/tourist-attractions/aquarium.htmlMich, it's funny how we can miss the little every day things - even snow! I miss the look and feel of it. Talking about it makes me want to build an igloo or snowman. We are all doing okay, it really has been quite the experience. Just a quick picture of the camel that I rode in the Thar desert in Rajesthan. He is 10 years old and his name of Raja. A very gentle and well trained animal:
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 25, 2013 16:47:57 GMT
Thanks, Deyana- will see if I can go anytime soon- and great photo!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2013 17:25:05 GMT
He looks friendlier than most camels!
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Post by mossie on Mar 31, 2013 8:26:38 GMT
Yes, rule number 1with camels, do not stand too close in front or they will spit at you. Rule number 2 do not stand behind , or they will p............
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2013 14:40:59 GMT
Good advice, mossie, I must admit I was very worried at first about cllimbing the camel, but it all turned out fine in the end.
Hi k, I'm in delhi right now, will be here for a while.
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Post by nycgirl on Apr 9, 2013 3:54:44 GMT
That camel is pretty cute.
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deyana a guezt
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Post by deyana a guezt on Apr 9, 2013 5:11:45 GMT
Yeah he waz very cute nycgirl. Eazy to ride on az well.
Well, I am ztill in Delhi, it'z extremely hot here right now. Feelz like an oven az zoon a you ztep out. I am typing thiz on a netbook where one of the letterz do not work, I'm hoping I will not be lozing thiz pozt to cyberzpace. I can't accezz any of my emailz az my provider iz not accepting my location. That iz new to me. And I can't remember any pazzwordz to them anyhow!
I made zome promizez on here to K, and otherz about writing up thiz trip, and I try and keep my promizez...regardlezz.
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Post by anshjain97 on Apr 9, 2013 8:05:44 GMT
Where all have you visited/will visit in Delhi?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2013 11:05:04 GMT
What letter is missing on the keyboard, deyana? ;D
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deyana the unloggable
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Post by deyana the unloggable on Apr 10, 2013 1:45:47 GMT
Kerouac, that'z a trick queztiion. If anyone can guezz the mizzing letter, the reward involvez a big bar of Cadburyz milk choclate ;D Anzh, I've been around mozt of Delhi now. I try and avoid thoze guilded tourz on nice air-conditioned buzez, but we did take one the lazt time we Were in Delhi in February. There'z an up and a down zide to doing it that way. The upzide being that the work of looking for, finding, locating and getting to a place are all done for you. The downide iz that I did't feel we had enough time to explore each place and you don't get a choice exactly where you want to go and how you want to do it. Thiz time around (being old handz at it now with over 2 monthz of practice ) we have been exploring the city ourzelvez. Zo much more interezting doing it thiz way. There are only zo many 'tourizty' placez to zee and more factinating for me haz been dicovering the 'real' city of Delhi. How every day folk live, work and zurvive. What makez them tick. I often wonder at their enthuziaizm, thier embition, their get up and go way of looking at life. Delhi and India in general iz a country on the move. Zure there iz ztill a lot of poverty and problemz here, but there iz alzo a zenze of moving forward. Zometimez the very opulant and wealthy areaz and ztructurez that are coming up everywhere clazh with the very poor zurrounding it. I have learned though there iz more in place here to help the poorer citizenz than firzt meetz the eye. Free hozpitalz and medication, zhelterz and foztering and adoption of children who are left without parentz. I am alzo told that the dizabled, elderly and otherz are elibible for zome kind of zocial azzitance from the government, although I would like to look into thiz further... maybe Anzh can zhed more light on thiz?... Another very hot day here today. Later on we are off to zee the National Art gallery. Alzo need to ztart packing zoon.
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Post by anshjain97 on Apr 10, 2013 14:04:25 GMT
Yes, we have several benefits for different cases, such as subsidised treatment for AIDS. Our social security is improving, with the launch of a Unique Identification Number system to start, called Aadhar. I also think there's a benefit of getting means to travel overseas for medical treatment, but not sure. Besides, we have a Public Distribution System where ration card holders get subsidised food, LPG etc, for poor people.
Some homeless shelters are being built as well.
And other usual stuff- I think they're coming with a good system for cash payments to poor families with rreductions in graft.
There was also a toilet subsidy given out- money to install toilets in houses- but it failed as the money was used for storerooms instead.
For something new in Delhi, take a drive down Barakhamba Rd, and to Haus Khaz, including India Gate. Feels more modern.
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