Blogs from Trivandrum, Kerala, India, Asia - page 6

It was already dark when we arrived at the East Fort Junction where we were met by Matthew, one of the program directors. Matthew, his wife Cassie, and their 4yr old son Avi are from Wisconsin but have been living in Thiruvananthapuram for 2yrs while Matthew has been researching ayurveda medicine in Kerala. His wife has been learning Barhata Natyam an Indian dance form. On the steps of the most prominent temple in Kerala Matthew debriefed us about what to expect at the possession we were about to witness. Of all the information he gave, the point he stressed the most was what to do if we wanted to leave, I think this made all of us (5 of the 9 total students) wonder just what we were getting ourselves into. From the main temple, it ... read more

We made our way to Trivandrum today after having breakfast on the balcony...It all went a bit 'fawlty towers' for a while in the hotel with a question about hot water resulting in various responses - * The boy is coming to turn the switch * Let it run for 5 minutes.... * we have solar panels - not always hot! We discovered that the let it run option worked. A request for breakfast early didnt happen so i went down to ask and was met with lots of 'one moment, one moment' and then when the manager arrived I was greeted with gesticulating hands and 'terribly sorry, terribly sorry' while he explained somthing about sleeping. (we are the only people here so who can blame him for lying in!). The hotel's great, everyones really friendly ... read more

Well... what a week, I could probably keep writing about everything for ages but I think Ill cut it short because Im going for my last day in the hospital in a minute. So had a pretty good week around Ananthupuri (the hospital) seen a lot... yesterday I saw a cesarean, it was the best operation Ive seen, had a tear come to my eyes! Bless! By working in Ananthupuri I have seen the difference between the rich and the poor. Ananthurprui is a private hospital run by some quite renowned medicals, so the conditions inside the hospital have been incredible, whereas in Cambodia and the general hospitals around India the care has been very basic and unhygenic. Its really hard to explain but if they can afford it they should get it. The rich people ... read more

Well... after a 1 hour flight, followed by a 15 hour wait, further followed by a 3 hour flight and then a 5 hour wait... then a 15 hour bus ride, I am at Trivandrum!!! Absolutely knackered and totally bewildered! Its been a loooonnnng way but hopefully it willl be worth it. The train was an experience of a life time, Im not even joking, health and safety would be having a field day, if you went to the toilet you would be excriting on to the track, beds.. well had to be shared and ahhhh! but Im glad to be here, everyone seems really friendly and everything, I want to catch a flight between here and Chennai though. South India looks to be amazing though, its so green and fertile and it looks like it ... read more

Five excruciating hours after our departure from Kollam, we arrived in the Kerelan capital of Thirvundrum. At this point, the series of overcrowded, non A/C public buses ridden over the past few days were taking a serious toll on us and we were all a bit edgy. We searched around for our connecting bus to Kanyakumari, and, received conflicting information regarding the time of departure and platform number. We waited around until the first time we were told passed, then, decided to change plans last minute and catch the A/C train up to Chennai. Unfortunately for us, our long, tiring day was not finished as the joys of good ‘ol fashion convoluted Indian process were about to begin. Now, the following details may not be the most exciting read, however, they provide a good summary on ... read more