We left our windowless, A.C.less room about an hour too early this morning to make it to the train station on time. It was just before five in the morning and already the horns were Honking and the rickshaws were out in full force. We caught a ride for about thirty cents a piece, which I'm told might have been too much, passing the sleeping homeless and early rising merchants. By the time we hit the station ten minutes later the city seemed wide awake. Somewhat. The station is open-air and could easily be described as Post-Apocalyptic. Broken tile floors with sleeping bodies (or I hope they were sleeping) littered about and in every other available surface the people were already moving back and forth. This was just after five. We made our way to the platform with an hour to spare. Nothing to do but either confront or ignore the thousands of stares coming from all sides. I had my eye on one drowsy looking stick of a man with his back to me when I noticed that he was actually peeing on the platform. And then he stood there. And the people were still staring at us. Then a few minutes later the stick man took hold of his pant leg and began to shake until pieces of shit fell out near his ankle. And he remained standing there. And the people were still staring at us. At us! He took a few more minutes, slipped out a few more lumps, got some on his feet, and then walked three feet to a pillar and scraped the shit from between his toes. I was too entranced to notice anyone staring at me. Later someone slipped in it.
As the train rolled along we passed the type of slums that I've only seen in National Geographic or Time. Such a sad display of existence that I couldn't attach an emotion to it. I just watched with me eyes stuck. And then we started to pass "The Poopy Fields". Andrew had forewarned us and it was everything I had expected. Men pooping everywhere. Some hidden in the grass, others squatting directly on the tracks. It seemed ludicrous, like I was in a perverse Dr. Seuss book. They stared in our windows as we passed with their pants down and.... You know what, I'm just gonna stop there. It did seem to take the edge of the rest of the sights. What I mean is that multiple men pooping outdoors in "The Poopy Fields" is so very funny.
7.23.2007
7.21.2007
My Compatriots
So I'm traveling with two very close friends. One being Andrew who is a friend from Olympia and the Other being Melissa whom I've known for over a decade. They both have blogs which I would now like to direct anyone to.
Andrews is http://andrew-tarter.livejournal.com/
Melissas is http://blogsfromanon-blogger.blogspot.com
Melissa is also a professional photographer with her own business back in Florida (which is one of the reasons I allowed her to tag along:). She is an amazing photographer and I would encourage anyone with a little spare time to chech her website at
http://www.melissamariephotography.net/
Since our talents lie in different arenas I will, from now on, refer to here as
Andrews is http://andrew-tarter.livejournal.com/
Melissas is http://blogsfromanon-blogger.blogspot.com
Melissa is also a professional photographer with her own business back in Florida (which is one of the reasons I allowed her to tag along:). She is an amazing photographer and I would encourage anyone with a little spare time to chech her website at
http://www.melissamariephotography.net/
Since our talents lie in different arenas I will, from now on, refer to here as
My Photographeras she will she will also refer to me as
Her Journalist. It just sound good.
I'm Here
Well it took around 24 hrs. to get here but it but it was smooth. Andrew met us at the airport with a cab waiting. Thirty minutes of the most terrifying traffic later we made it to the New Delhi Bazaar where we had a room waiting for us. We took a quick minute to unload our gear and we hit the streets.
I can't really say how I feel about this place yet. It's an almost constant sense overload filled with noises, smells, and obstacles. It's everything I was informed that it would be and still unbelievable. Stray dogs, Roaming cows, Litter, filth, Bikes, Rickshaws, cabs, Horns, incessant movement everywhere. All of my attention is devoted to navigating the narrow streets and remaining with my companions. Last night I was nudged/ hit, by an auto-rickshaw and it just seemed like part of the game. Everyone is making there way somewhere and I'm asking myself, "Where"? Nobody stops but to pause and let another move forward and then it's on again.
We got an early start this morning and took in breakfast at a roof top restaurant above an Israeli Guest House. It was still fairly quiet and we could look out upon the city and see the still sleeping citizens on top of other buildings. As the time drew on the sounds became more frequent, the car horns more constant. After breakfast we made our way to the train station to purchase three tickets to Rajastahn for tomorrow morning. We catch the train at 6am and will end up at our destination 5 hrs. later.
I don't feel like I'm in a place mentally, to take photos yet but be sure they will come.
I can't really say how I feel about this place yet. It's an almost constant sense overload filled with noises, smells, and obstacles. It's everything I was informed that it would be and still unbelievable. Stray dogs, Roaming cows, Litter, filth, Bikes, Rickshaws, cabs, Horns, incessant movement everywhere. All of my attention is devoted to navigating the narrow streets and remaining with my companions. Last night I was nudged/ hit, by an auto-rickshaw and it just seemed like part of the game. Everyone is making there way somewhere and I'm asking myself, "Where"? Nobody stops but to pause and let another move forward and then it's on again.
We got an early start this morning and took in breakfast at a roof top restaurant above an Israeli Guest House. It was still fairly quiet and we could look out upon the city and see the still sleeping citizens on top of other buildings. As the time drew on the sounds became more frequent, the car horns more constant. After breakfast we made our way to the train station to purchase three tickets to Rajastahn for tomorrow morning. We catch the train at 6am and will end up at our destination 5 hrs. later.
I don't feel like I'm in a place mentally, to take photos yet but be sure they will come.
7.20.2007
Peath Out
It's 9a.m. and wer'e about to leave for Orlando to catch our flight. 2 hrs. to Jersey, 4 hr. layover, and then 16 hours to Delhi. I'm still not filled with excitement. I've either got a sense of peace and Presence that i've never known before or I'm scared out of my fucking mind and refuse to face it. Either way it's good a place to be.
7.17.2007
Hustlin' Time
I'm now just four days away from my departure to India. I've been in Florida since July 12th and it strikes me that only seven months ago I stated that, "this will be the last time i come to Florida". Hmmm.... well it wasn't a desire to return to this angry, cracker-ridden state that has me here now but instead a cherished friendship with my traveling partner Melissa. I originally had intended to meet her in Delhi but she had a few reservations about arriving in India alone. Considering India's oppressive treatment of women and reading about the scallywags and rat-scallions roaming the major cities in that country I can't really fault her for any apprehensions about being alone. But I need to make pefectly clear that I in no way wanted to visit this doomed and morally rotten appendage of the States.
But here I am and it's not so bad. I've got books and coffee and a pool. A few treasured friends and sunshine. i recieved a suprise email from an old friend that i hadn't heard from in over a decade and we're actually meeting up later today. He's also still connected to the other guys in our crew so it should turn out to be an awesome reunion.
As an update to my travels, i reconnected with a friend at the Crisis Clinic a few weeks ago and found out that she is going to take an extended vacation in Vietnam. What this means is that once my commrades in India return to the states I'll be free to make my way over to 'Nam, "The Shit", and meet up with Grace for some new travels. Man, the evolution of this adventure just keeps unfolding to include new people and places. It all started with a bike trip down the coast and I wound up staying in San Felipe, Mexico, spending three weeks in Arizona with my family, melting in Florida for a week too long, India, Vietnam, and who knows what else is to come. All of this because I let go of the life I knew for something I didn't. The fear that I felt before leaving has opened me up for experiences that I can only fully understand the meaning of in quiet retrospect. But I'm sure of gleaning immense benfits from these travels even before their had. Fuck Yeah.
But here I am and it's not so bad. I've got books and coffee and a pool. A few treasured friends and sunshine. i recieved a suprise email from an old friend that i hadn't heard from in over a decade and we're actually meeting up later today. He's also still connected to the other guys in our crew so it should turn out to be an awesome reunion.
As an update to my travels, i reconnected with a friend at the Crisis Clinic a few weeks ago and found out that she is going to take an extended vacation in Vietnam. What this means is that once my commrades in India return to the states I'll be free to make my way over to 'Nam, "The Shit", and meet up with Grace for some new travels. Man, the evolution of this adventure just keeps unfolding to include new people and places. It all started with a bike trip down the coast and I wound up staying in San Felipe, Mexico, spending three weeks in Arizona with my family, melting in Florida for a week too long, India, Vietnam, and who knows what else is to come. All of this because I let go of the life I knew for something I didn't. The fear that I felt before leaving has opened me up for experiences that I can only fully understand the meaning of in quiet retrospect. But I'm sure of gleaning immense benfits from these travels even before their had. Fuck Yeah.
7.11.2007
Show Low, Arizona
It's July 11th and I've been spending the last three weeks in Show Low, Az. with the family.
After reaching the border and spending a few hours in Tijuana, Nevada and I drove back to San Diego and the following day drove down to San Felipe, B.C. to spend some time on the beach. Her father and his wife also live down there so we had a place to crash. It's a small, no-where town that is on the verge of coming up- American Style. Big half built housing developments for tourists and snow birds line the road miles before the town center. It seemed like the first pieces of property to go up were the overprotective concrete and iron barriers guarding the green grass patches and completely out of place water fountains. Almost no homes were in sight, only the billboards foretelling the future.
On our way back into the states Nevada's car began to overheat in the line to cross over to California. We scrounged up a few dollars, a bit of change, 2 lighters, and an apple to give to the men gathering water for the radiator. We barely made it to an auto parts store and I have to think that we had little chance of making it another mile without destroying the engine.
I met up with my Dad and his partner Nancy following our return to San Diego and the next day we began the seven hour drive back to Show Low, Az. We passed through some ares of lower Az. that were hosting some intense heat. 118 degrees in one town. About six hours into the drive we stopped for lunch and when we went to leave the car wouldn't start. The Heat had killed the Battery. Luckily we were able to get a drunk Indian with a Fiery, self-important attitude to give us a jump and we were on our way with our fingers crossed that the battery also hadn't killed the alternator. We made it home but the the next day the battery was toast.
It seems that I'm the unlucky common denominator in these motor excursions and tomorrow I leave for Florida. Hopefully the bad Juju has burned itself out and I can have an incident free trip which takes me by small commuter plane from Show Low to Phoenix Intl. where I'll catch a bigger jet to Houston, Tx. and then over to Orlando Fl.
After reaching the border and spending a few hours in Tijuana, Nevada and I drove back to San Diego and the following day drove down to San Felipe, B.C. to spend some time on the beach. Her father and his wife also live down there so we had a place to crash. It's a small, no-where town that is on the verge of coming up- American Style. Big half built housing developments for tourists and snow birds line the road miles before the town center. It seemed like the first pieces of property to go up were the overprotective concrete and iron barriers guarding the green grass patches and completely out of place water fountains. Almost no homes were in sight, only the billboards foretelling the future.
On our way back into the states Nevada's car began to overheat in the line to cross over to California. We scrounged up a few dollars, a bit of change, 2 lighters, and an apple to give to the men gathering water for the radiator. We barely made it to an auto parts store and I have to think that we had little chance of making it another mile without destroying the engine.
I met up with my Dad and his partner Nancy following our return to San Diego and the next day we began the seven hour drive back to Show Low, Az. We passed through some ares of lower Az. that were hosting some intense heat. 118 degrees in one town. About six hours into the drive we stopped for lunch and when we went to leave the car wouldn't start. The Heat had killed the Battery. Luckily we were able to get a drunk Indian with a Fiery, self-important attitude to give us a jump and we were on our way with our fingers crossed that the battery also hadn't killed the alternator. We made it home but the the next day the battery was toast.
It seems that I'm the unlucky common denominator in these motor excursions and tomorrow I leave for Florida. Hopefully the bad Juju has burned itself out and I can have an incident free trip which takes me by small commuter plane from Show Low to Phoenix Intl. where I'll catch a bigger jet to Houston, Tx. and then over to Orlando Fl.
6.19.2007
Ajui! La Fronteira de Mexico
Hey Hector, don't be so fucking sensitive you big baby. You're still one of my least hated customers. And who is this Cy that has a problem with my "fuck-ness"? I thought that it was one of my more endearing qualities? Anyway, I leave for India on the 20th of July. I plan to write more as I reflect back on the last 7 weeks and finally reveal the true meaning of Simultaneously in First and Last Place. I encourage all of you to stick with me as I hone my bloggy prowess and wait for the publishing checks to roll in. Hopefully this is an entertaining site for my friends to visit and my truly authentic way of expressing angst and "fuck-ness" are received well.
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