Today is the Hindi holiday diwali (festival of lights)…it’s after dark and everyone is firing off their fireworks (mainly very loud firecrackers!)…it sounds like a war zone, it’s crazy!!! We head out here in about ten minutes to catch the train to Dharamsala where we will spend the next week…so this’ll be brief (and I just overheard that there are no taxi’s available…so this might be very abrupt!). But, yesterday was great, we saw the Taj…it was beautiful! Sunell went back home early this morning. Our time in Delhi has been wonderful, staying with the Smith’s was a great decision, they’ve been wonderful at answering our many probing questions! We’ve also spent time with Sunil and Pam on a number of occasions the past few days…it’s great to have friends to share and process this experience with. Well the overnight train should be an experience, we have a sleeper…so it could be a bit crazier! Not sure how accessible internet will be, so it may be a day or two before an update. Sara says hi from the other room (still finishing up packing). Well it’s great to read your comments, looking forward to sharing more with ya when we get back (we’ve been taking lots of photos). Oh, and I’m sure Dad typed the comment about “wanting to be here” and I’m pretty sure he didn’t actaully mean being here in India with us:-) Well, got to run! Talk to ya’ll later!
November 9, 2007
November 9, 2007 at 10:06 am
your blogging like a pro, keep it up bro.
November 9, 2007 at 10:41 am
i’m sitting at work now bored, but your blog (and youtube) have made it less boring. congrads on getting a blog … but you should completely sell out and get a myspace, facebook, xanga, ect. hope the rest of your trip is good and stay safe and all that nonsense.
November 10, 2007 at 5:22 am
I got home safe and am thinking about your trip to the Himalayas. Diwali is a Hindu festival and Hindi is the language. But I am looking forward to the upcoming blogs. Gina sends her love.
November 10, 2007 at 9:47 am
I can’t wait to read about Dharmasala. I was never there but It’s very similar to my favorite town of Manali, except D has way more Tibetians (very nice people–be sure to get some momo’s at a momo shop for me!!), hippies, and marijuana (from what I’ve been told) so stay away from the latter!! You’ll love the mountian views, walking trails all over in and out of town and getting out of the city. Enjoy!! Strike up some conversations with hippies and budhist seekers in the restaurants or bus station. They are interesting to listen to. Ed says hello.
BE SURE TO LEARN “thank you” in hindi…”Done-ya-wad”. It comes in handy for winning favor with the locals. Then find out what this means…
“chai doo-khan ka-HA hey?” (on the ka-HA, emphasize the HA and make it sound nasally). Then ask, “Apko chai cha-HE-ay?”
Let me know how it goes!