#23 India - Week 1

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Hello hello,
Well, we did it. 1 week down, 11 to go in India. It took most of the first week but we now have a room in a flat, a reliable internet connection, sim cards in our phones, skype set up, and a few Indian friends to boot. Still no running water but we have a large bucket that is refilled each day. We are planning a 3 week trip to Nepal next month to climb Mount Everest; well the bottom part anyhow.

We found tickets to a few of the Commonwealth Games (Tennis and Rugby) so that is good news (thanks to Gaurav number 1). I have decided to take piano and Chinese lessons while Laura works on her grad school applications. I feel a bit like a lazy king here as our landlord brings us in meals 3 times a day and is always ready to help us out. Its a shame she doesnt speak English and that we dont speak Hindi as she seems really nice.

As far as touristy stuff I went to the zoo today as well as the Akshardam temple complex. It is one of the worlds biggest temples apparently. The cat collection at the zoo was great; Siberian and Bengal tigers, lions, panthers, jaguires and leopards, etc. I really enjoyed it. The new metro system here is great except the people don't know how to use a metro. For example, when a full train pulls into a crowded station, the people on the inside of the train waiting to get off, and the people on the outside waiting to get in, all put their hands up to protect themselves and slaughter into each other like it is the start of a football match. People grab, pull, yank you into the car. If the people outside would let the people inside get off first before commencing the pushing and shoving it would be a lot more orderly. It is totally secure though. It is like the airport to get on. First medal detectors, the pat down, bags thru the x-ray machine, etc.. it creates some monster lines.

This weekend we are going to the birth place of Krishna, I believe a Hindu G-d? Will post later about the commonwealth games. For now they seem to be going okay..

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Comments

[Amy]

Nepal
Adam, We loved the six weeks we spent in Nepal, both in Kathmandu and Pokara. Pokara is where most of the walks and treks leave from so you will probably visit there. Nepal has changed so much since our visit. There were few cars in the country, even in Kathmandu. I can't imagine those little streets full of cars, even after seeing it in the internet. Anyway, as you may or may not know, I write for ehow.com and some other writer has a little piece you might like to see, http://www.ehow.com/how_2362265_do-everest-base-camp-trek.html