Bollywood, rats, and urine

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As I sit waiting for the train (its about 11pm) my emotions are overwhelmed. I wonder if I will ever get used to feeling like this. Mind you, it has only been 5 days in India, but it already feels like a lifetime. Could be because I am utterly alone and just had to walk through about 30 people all laying on the floor in the train station (unsure if they were beggers or homeless...i couldnt stop to look). In the past 2 months, I really have never been alone or stretched as much as I have in the past 5 days. I don't know whether to cry or laugh at this moment. I've been asked countless times 'oh who are you traveling with' or 'are you alone' or 'where is your husband'. I've taken to answering, 'no I'm not alone, I'm traveling with God'. That has evoked smiles and reactions that I had yet to see. Oh and I've invented up several amazing boyfriends...Unfortunately I'm not the best liar, and have been called on it a few times. I will admit, traveling alone in India is difficult. People said it was, and I was like 'Aaaah, it's probably not really that bad''. But on the flip side, I've seen and experienced the real India otherwise hidden if i went the safe route and was with another traveler.I made a friend (or whatever you call him) in Delhi who drove me around the city, and then a 6 hour drive to Jaipur. Once we arrived, he said, "hey, I have another friend who can show you around this city". So, I woke up in a huge city, completely no idea where I was, no other tourists around... So I gave his friend a call. Thing I've discovered about Indians is that they all want to talk to you, and for the most part are very friendly and helpful. Now, whether they are friendly or not for their own financial gain is to be determined, but I took a chance on this friend of a friend. Turns out I made a good choice. Jaipur, which is the capital of Rajasthan, is known as the pink city. It is a bustling city built around ancient palaces (ironically pink) whose walls are still just as strong as ever (not crumbling). As you walk through complete chaos, yelling street vendors, with the ever present odor of urine, your passing under huge stone city walls that have weathered hundred of years. It's like going back in time through the walls of Jericho or something (couldnt really think of any other reference). I guess I'm still fascinated with old buildings, considering canada has zero history compared to this part of the world.There are camels and elephants just sauntering along the streets. And no one other than myself seems to be in shock and awe at this! And cows... They are all over and it's really rather gross because it's like a huge stray dog rummaging through the rubbish piles. Even if people did eat meat, I wouldn't touch that beef from a mile away. This friend who showed me around Jaipur for the past few days works with his family in a business that makes rugs. That process alone I could write a whole essay on. Basically, three men all tying individual knots for 2-3 months is what it takes to make a rug. Oooh fun fact, as I'm sitting here in the waiting room at the station, a nasty rat keeps running by my feet. I finally had to wack my bag to try to scare it away. Well, thank god I wore flip flops... Not! Probably would be a tasty treat because earlier some guy spit and it conveniently landed on my foot. Oh and I got pooped on twice today (once right in my hair). Apparently that's good luck though �ut on a positive note, I saw the local side of this city, met a man who pounds gold and silver into thin sheets for hours at a time with a hammer (why couldn't they use a machine for that?), ate dinner in a muslin home & saw an Indian wedding procession on the streets (it is my ultimate goal to attend one of these weddings!). Another thing I am SO grateful for is the weather. I couldn't do this in 50 degree heat. It is only around 25 degrees during the day so it makes wearing an excessive amount of clothes bearable. The absolute best night was going to their cinema-Bollywood!!! Their theatre is actually a legit theatre, with the curtain going up and it is the 2nd best in all of Asia (Dubia takes first). There is a separate ticket line for females, and no joke, probably about 15 females in a theatre of 250 men. Even though I couldn't understand the language, that movie was so entertaining! Every time something happened, every one in the crowd would cheer, whistle and shout. Made for an buzzing atmosphere. Oh and two fist fights broke out in the middle of the movie. I now understand why they had security guards at the entrance...
I will post this after the 12 hour train journey I'm about to take. I keep on having to breath deep, say a prayer, and keep going. It kind of reminds me of when you are driving on ice and you start sliding...only way through it is to keep going PS. I survived the train ride. I managed to squeeze myself on the train and scored a mat to lay on. I only had 10 or so men staring and watching me sleep. Another success, nothing got stolen while I was sleeping!

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Comments

[Jaclyn]

Deja vu!
Can't believe that things haven't changed more in 30 years! Reading this blog is like listening to my own memories. Did the trains, got pooped on, stared at, saw a wedding, got spat upon. But not alone. Thank our God that He is closer to you than any companion could be! Miss you and love you...