http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/HJC/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from HJC en-us Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:20:43 +0000 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:20:43 +0000 Just realize where you come from this is the essence of wisdom. The Tao Te ChingEvery year Rotary International Clubs around the world hold conferences to welcome back their young countrymen who have just experienced a year abroad living and studying in various foreign countries. Six years ago during one such conference held in the US there was a private meeting held with the students who ha http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Maryland/Baltimore/blog-423920.html South Africa land of wildebeest and lions a territory blanketed by mountains dry grasslands and incredible coastlines a place retaining 11 official languages and whose history has been forever marked by Aparteid has opened its arms to one more American looking for some peace of mind and a new way to look at life.For those of you who may be confused in regard to why I made the jump from India http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-411954.html Believe it or not this flighting America has successfully made her way out of Asia and into Africa. And as I sat in the Abu Dhabi airport on June the 1st waiting for 14 hours to make my way to Joburg already I found it difficult to contemplate the place I had just come from. The land of camels and saris was already fading with the Dolce and Gabana everything and US4 Burger King French fries. http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/United-Arab-Emirates/Abu-Dhabi/blog-405195.html This week marked the end of classes and the completion of reports and presentations. We celebrated our new found freedom by drinking sweet lassis a sweet yogurt drink and spending time out in the streets of the Pink City with local Jaipurians. Instead of writing I've posted a video that was taken by friend and former MSIDer Renee at her NGO internship site this past fall. I get a kick out of http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jaipur/blog-391979.html The Third World Experience Knowing what it means to not have to wait in line.ldquoWe from the Westrdquo who leave our lives of traffic lit corners and thirty page employee handbooks to explore what President Harry Truman first denoted as ldquothe developing worldrdquo often get confused by the strange disorder we find ourselves in when we step into this strange new world. As we enter http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Udaipur/blog-389377.html Holi referred to as Phagwa in Bhojpuri also called the Festival of Colours is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India Suriname Guyana Trinidad the UKand Nepal. In West Bengal of India and Bangladesh it is known as Dolyatra Doljatra or Boshonto Utsav spring festival.The main day Holi also known as Dhulheti Dhulandi or Dhulendi is celebrated by people throwing coloured http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/blog-380763.html Though I didnrsquot exactly leave the region of Southern Rajasthan I did take the advice of certain parties by getting out of the NGO for a day for some much needed site seeing. On this gumne trip Lindsay and I went with two of our Indian friends to Kumbalghar Forthellipan ancient fort built by the Rajput king Maharan Kumbha in 1443 and completed in 1458 A.D. It claims to be the ldquom http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/blog-378655.html In the U.S. we normally consider it rude to ask someone how much they paid for something. I think this might have something to do with the fact that in a country based on equality questions that allow us to evaluate one another in such a superficial and economic manner even if that is not the intention are not normally welcomed. This hesitancy to question certain things extends far beyond as http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Udaipur/blog-376104.html Itrsquos been just over five months now in which I have observed that my own ideology has shifted to near communism. OK that's a huge exaggeration the point is my mind has been rifted and shaken. Sometimes I find it difficult to gage my current scope on worldly issues being completely consumed by the issues of Southern Rural Rajasthan. Sometimes I like to contemplate where my mind would be if http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/blog-370252.html Now that I've been here almost four and a half months and failed to keep a good account of the last two of them I think I'd prefer to start documenting random stories and thoughts instead of trying to create a comprehensive overview of what goes on here. so here goesAn example of how the way in which universal habits are performed in different cultures is fundamental in shaping the memories we http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/blog-362650.html Having now lived a technology devoid and relatively understated existence for the past month I have become disinclined to write it all down. So much has happened that I want to share. Over the course of this time have been astounded by the experiences I lsquove had the people Irsquove met and the ideas that continue to inspired me. Well occupied by the internship phase of http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Udaipur/blog-347374.html Due to local holidays and some schedule shifting we had all of last week Oct. 4th 9th free. I saw this as a perfect opportunity to travel to DharmshalaMcLeod Ganj the resting place of the exiled Tibetan government and current home of the Dalai Lamamdasha place I have been hoping to visit since coming to India. Six of us departed immediately after class on Friday to catch a 4pm train tha http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Himachal-Pradesh/Mcleod-Ganj/blog-334496.html Irsquom still in catch up mode as I attempt to highlight what I can from the past two weeks of adventures. Shekarwati and Rajput CastlesAgra and The Taj MahalNot so far from the US plummet Two weeks ago we had a three day field trip to Shekarwati a Ragistani province that is known for its Rajput Castles and Havelis mansions. After spending the first day at an organic farming NGO we spent t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Shekhawati/blog-333804.html Going into my fourth entry I realize that I have left out a good explanation of what exactly I am doing here. So Irsquove postponed my writings on the Taj Mahal and other adventures to tell you about the program I am taking part in.MSIDmdashMinnesota Studies on International Development is the name of program I am involved with through the U of M. It is a program that most obviously focuse http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jaipur/blog-333797.html After reading my brotherrsquos latest travel blog I have been inspired to inherit some of his blogging tactics to make things easier on readers. So for those of you who donrsquot have enough time to read these monstrous essays of mine or who are interested in only certain details of my adventures Irsquove decided to make a list before each entry of what will be covered. So here http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jaipur/blog-325919.html This past weekend we had our first taste of freedom from MSID. Though there were many attractive places to choose from for our first adventure eight of us opted to travel to the splendid city of Udaipur. We left late Friday evening on a sleeper train that lasted a good ten hours or so heading directly south. Despite the fact that our bunks were located next to the bathroom we were able to get http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Udaipur/blog-324140.html It has been a week now since landing in New Delhi. I couldnrsquot feel more right about where I am and what I am doing here. The plane ride from OrsquoHaire airport to New Delhi was quite pleasant. Before boarding I was able to spot the rest of the crowd that was heading off to India via the MSID program. It was comforting to know that I was not alone in my adventure. I sat next to a Guate http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jaipur/blog-321473.html 81 The bus dropped us off in the streets of Bangkok at midnight of August 1st. We were conveniently within walking distance of Khaosan Road where we would be staying the rest of the trip. For those of you who have never been to Bangkok Khaosan Road is the place for traveling farang foreigners. It is a backpacker's haven that is filled with the best street shopping food and night life B http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-310211.html After experiencing the hospitality and heat of Issan we were ready to cool off at the beach. So begins our tour of the south. 719 Initially we had planned to meet some friends on Kho Chang...an island off the main land near Bangkok. Due to bad weather we opted to head straight to the southeastern islands. We took a Mercedes charter bus from UbonRatchatani down to Pattaya. The trip was certain http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Samui/blog-310118.html I forgot that I haven't actually specified who I am actually traveling with. So hear goes....Katja friend from Indiana who was also an exchange student while I was in Brazil. Before Brazil Katja did her first exchange in Thailand where she learned Thai and fell in love with the place. This is her first time back since.Kara Katja's friend from the University of Indiana who is majoring in Japane http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/blog-301307.html