You've see some amazing places---I love seeing the photos and hearing about your crazy adventures! The kids that you're helping are really cute---can you imagine Andies family with 12 kids? Keep up the good work!!!! Mom
Nikola - I wondered if you'd notice that. I saved that one photo / postcard just for you. Also, I have family members (i.e. grandma) subscribed, and I didn't they'd find it quite as funny as we would. Glad you liked it!
Hey Kate, that's a great question. It comes and goes a little at times, but the blog descriptions aren't as good because I just haven't had much time to write of late. As for Petra, I was there yesterday and today!!! :) Hopefully my pics will live up to your expectations!
Travel fatigue yet? I'm curious - you've been on the road for several months now - has travel fatigue set in? Are you always on the go or do you take days off now and then? Your pictures of India are fantastic , but China was much more alluring from your descriptions and pictures!
Also, are you going to Petra while you are in Jordan? Can't wait to see pics of that if you are!
Hey Kate, the colored dye is from Holi - the Indian festival of colors (kind of celebrates the coming of spring). For one whole day the north of India goes crazy in kind of a paintball / color war. Everyone gets into it, and even the older adults are covered in color by the end of the day. I just got it worse than most because I was playing with two rival gangs of kids in the neighborhood where I was staying.
As for the houses, it's not just the roofs but the whole buildings that are blue. The blue color signifies that the house belongs to a family of the Brahman (priest) caste.
As for illness, I've had my stomach replaced with a Heineken mini keg, so that solved most bacterial problems.
And it's not just westerners, they are interested in most tourists (so long as you are away from the super touristy areas).
Incredible! I'm probably not the only person who is going to ask you this, but why are you covered in red dye in several of the pictures? Also, why are some of those rooftops blue - any special reason? And lastly, how have you gotten by ingesting even a tiny amount of Indian tap water and not gotten sick??? My sister had just a tiny bit in Africa and both times got giardia!
And are Indians just extra deferential to Westerners, or anybody they perceive as visiting their country? Obviously most Westerners are a bit easier to spot:) Just curious...
Keep the pictures and the blogs coming - everything looks amazing!
Your stories always make me laugh and I always want more----I love the way people seem to take care of you----just don't let them "Kill you with too much kindness!!!! The photos are great!
Amazing journey and photos Hi Andy,
You should be a professional story teller. The blog posts you write are funny, entertaining, insightful and compassionate. You tell amazing stories and the photos are unbelievable. Seems like you are having the time of your life!
Jaimee :)
Hey Kate - So far so good. I love my steel-lined stomach :) And, as for Indian cuisine, I really think it must be some of the most varied in the world. Definitely the most varied I've had so far on the trip. As for home, it was definitely a bit odd. It was nice to have the relaxing break (not too relaxing with all of the running around), but it did throw me off for a day or two when I got to India. I'm back in the travel swing now.
As for photos, people just want them for the novelty of seeing themselves. They always thank me when I show them the photo.
I just read your blog and enjoyed it all over again. I realized that I forgot to add a comment the first time through. It's as wonderful as ever and I get such pleasure reading them! I looked through the pictures trying to find someone else wearing your hat and found the guy in the market. My favorite picture still is the goat in the motorcycle!
No food poisoning yet?:) Seriously? My sister was in the country about a day when she got hit with it. The food choices look a lot more varied than I would have thought. The pics of the palace carved out of stone were amazing. How was the trip home as far as getting slapped with Western culture for two weeks then heading back into the grind? Was it strange or oddly normal? Also, why do you think the people want you to take a picture of them? Ot is it just the novelty?
One last thing - Brian retired last week! Brad and I are "bossless". He got an offer he couldn't refuse and it had to take effect before the end of the fiscal year so there you go!
Dude, how much research did you have to do to come up with those names? I just walk in and point. I suppose I should ask, but the names would get mixed up with the other Hindi words I am trying to learn. You would definitely love this country, though. The food is amazing, and so diverse.
So you're happy that I'm including some more food pics?
Hey Chris - If you like photos of people, get ready for a LOT more. I'm getting stopped all the time by people asking me to snap a few pics. And I'll try to check out the Warrior game, though I may be on a train. If you watch, make sure to tell me how the Warrior girls do with their Indian dance routines.
Photos of people! Now, THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!!
The GSW game this Wednesday against Dallas is going to be televised in India. Check it out if you find the time.
http://www.nba.com/warriors/tickets/gsw_bollywood_night.html
Hi Dennis, it's great to hear from you. I'm glad you're getting a chance to live a little vicariously through me. The trip so far has been really fantastic. I just spent the weekend at a research base in the jungles of Sabah (northern Borneo) where I saw some wild pygmy elephants! Next up I'm going to do some SCUBA diving at Sipadan.
As for future plans, I just found out that I'll be going to the Yale School of Management in the fall for my MBA. I'm planning to focus on non-profit / low-profit management for sustainable development. I hope we can keep in touch as I work my way through the program.
Best,
Andy
Kate, please tell me you were one of the drunk (or at least slightly inebriated) tourists in the pen with the bulls! Actually, that's not true, there are some things I'm not even crazy enough for. During the running of the bulls, I managed to stay far enough away from the bulls and drunk runners. As for the spiders, yeah, they were pretty creepy. The worst part was definitely seeing so many on the way out.
As for Costa Rica, did you go with anyone (Naomi again)? How long were you there?
voyeurism from afar Andy,
I'm glad you're doing well.
Sitting here at work back in the States, I am very envious and a bit jealous of your trip...
All the best and I wish you safe travels,
dennis
Those spiders would send me home! Seriously, I have a major phobia and spiders the size of my hand would have freaked me out beyond belief! Anyway, great pics - and it looks like you are still having fun despite forehead cuts and dominant orangutans:) I just got back from Costa Rica (surfing) and thought of you when I went to a rural rodeo. The bulls were released into a ring, and after the rider got off they left the bulls in the ring with lots of drunk locals and tourists (no joke, beers in hand) acting as rodeo clowns. Then anybody who was injured was stuffed into a slot on the side of the ring called "Ambulancia". Pretty funny:) Can't wait to hear more about your adventures!
I'm about to go wandering through China, Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East and Southern Africa for the next 10 months. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't get into too much trouble!... full info
dennis atkinson
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Awesome
I'm jealous. It sounds like you are having a great time in truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Keep posting ! dennis