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Published: March 14th 2009
And I breath a sigh of relief as I take in my surroundings, I've made it to India at long last. My journey from Thailand to India has been an adventure in itself but the transition has been easier than I anticipated.
I enjoyed my last few days in Chiang Mai in Thailand wandering the city and exploring the markets. I took the trek up to the mountain temple Doi Su Thep and am glad I did. It is a relatively small temple compared to some in Bangkok but it is very ornate and filled with Buddha images and is the final resting place of a sacred bone relic. Along the way, I visited the small hilltribe museum and learned that the Karen "long neck" tribe women actually push their ribs down with the brass spirals to give the illusion of a longer neck, a long held custom meant to protect them. Another stop was at the Bhubing Palace, the Winter Residence of the royal family and it was a nice walk around in beautiful gardens and fountains.
My last night I checked out one of the rasta bars and enjoyed some Thai-infused reggae music, definately unique! But it seems my few beers did not mix well with nervous anticipation the following day while travelling. Or else I picked up on a stomach bug that had me with a fever on the flight over from Bangkok to Mumbai. Not exactly the most pleasant way to enter a foreign country! And yes, I didn't mention Mumbai previously because I didn't want you to worry any more than necessary and the transfer went very smoothly.
I stayed one night in Mumbai and right away noticed the heat, garbage, noise, traffic, smog, and people everywhere. I made my way to the train station and was relieved to see my name on the list of confirmed passengers. I've been warned about train travel in India and expected the worst but the trip was fairly uneventful. It was a long 31 hour journey to Trivandrum, travelling along the Southern tip of the West coast of India. Out my window I watched the scenery slowly become more green and lush and coconut trees thrived. I travelled in the 2A teir of the train heirarchy, which is second or third from the top and I'm glad for the comfort of space and relatively clean facilities. Also, I had a lovely Indian couple feed me treats the whole time. I can't say what I ate but they were sweet and delicious!
As I approached my final destination, the clouds above opened up and I experienced a Trivandrum thunder storm. It was quite fantastic with the rain pouring down and the lightning streaking across half the sky. I arrived safely at the Sivananda Ashram, situated in the hills above the city activity inside the Neyyar Dam park. The environment is serene and peaceful and everything is lush and full of life.
Tomorrow we begin the teacher training program, beginning each morning with 5:20 am wake up calls and a set routine throughout the day. It will be challenging and rewarding and I am still unsure of what to expect. Yet I am here.
The intenet facilities here are much more rustic than Thailand so I can't make any promises about how often I will write or be able to add pictures, but I will definately do my best. Thanks again for your messages and comments, they make my heart warm when I read them and think of you.
Love Laura
xoxoxo
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Brock
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bah! I can't believe you beat me to India. Definitely jealous. I'm stoked to hear more about your experiences there. glad that you are getting to experience so much.