Wandering the Earth. Varanasi has been a serious journey. Perfect to follow up after visiting Bodhgaya and the place of Buddha's awakening. Varanasi is the awakening fast track.
It seams that I am settled in here. That means I must move on. Don't want to loose my ability to be the only coconut (that's my new name "the coconut" because the kids think, well you get it, my cabeza is a freaking coconut) at train stations and buying tickets and going to 17 different only to manage to miss my train anyway; jostling through autorickshaw row exiting any bus or train stop; getting used to the new scams in a new place. It's all good. Frustrating as all frack...but good.
I've been patiently waiting for the mountains and now I am going to inject the mountains into my being. I leave Sunday to Delhi. Then spend the night at the airport - hopefully security is down with that. On Monday fly to Dehra Dun's Jolly Grant Airport. It's the bestest name ever for an airport in the Himilaya foothills?
The plan is to explore some of Dehra Dun, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Rajaji National Park, Corbett Tiger Preserve, and Haridwar. The final step is the Shatabdi Express from Haridwar to Delhi. Explore Delhi a few days then fly to the USA.
You know in Pulp Fiction when Vincent is talking to Jules about going to Amsterdam. He says, roughly paraphrased, "it's the small things that are different." "For instance?" "Well, they like their fries with mayonaise. They drown them in that shit." "Yuk." "And when you go into (was it a movie theatre?) they serve you beer. And I don't mean no beer in a paper cup. I mean a beer in a glass."
India has no small things that are different.
I'm looking forward to the mountains. Small things indeed? India has to do everything in superlatives. USA has 14ers (feet). Uttarakhand has the "lower" 7,000 meter Himalayan peaks - especially well-known is Nanda Devi (7816m) - ok, so it's not a lower 7,000m peak, it's an exception, an "outlier." What? What?
Cheers, love, peace, Target beer to all.
ps - thank you all for any and all comments. Those are much appreciated links back to my friends and family. That is another constant topic of Indian discussion - importance of family and friends. So thanks you wankers! Ciao.
6 comments:
So ole coconut head, I wrote you a long comment about how now I have become a learned one also (as opposed to one who did not even want a cell phone). Marveled that we can communicate from India to P-tn, and THEN!! ALAS!! I forgoet to enter the secret code that let me post my comment. Dah. Anyway here I am again.
I really struck me as weird about the cremation. Our bodies that we rever (after a fashion, cause really that is WHO WE ARE), is relegated to a burning pile of matter without the exorbitant civilized cost of a funeral. Hmm, maybe I sorta agree with that part. Kinda creepy, tho.
Am glad to know that old coconut head realized that the return across the Ganga is 10x more for a 'white boy'. Look how astute you have become! Hustlers abound thru the world, don't they.
I can't wait to listen to your recollections about your adventure. They will probably be a life-time of stories. Are you a changed person? Are you at peace? Are you longing for In-N-Out Burger?
Peace, out. Mom-O
Ah ha! The real purpose of your trip is now apparent----You've landed a job with ONGC in Dehra Dun. Enough of this "save the planet" charade! I always suspected you had oil in your blood!
The Himalayas will change you. They will set their long arcing, barbed hooks into your soul and never let go.
Pure magic!
Namaste!
Sounds like an awesome trip Matteo...we are so happy you are having such a wonderfully magical experience. The ways of the world...how true is that. lol. I love your humor and we miss you dearly, but love that you are finding you way there. It's amazing to experience India through you.
Excited to hear about the rest.
Hugs,
Scott, Sonia & Brooke Sisto
Himalayan magik. No wonder the Tibetans are so at ease. The Nepalese aren't that far behind... OK kids, be well, hugs, kisses if you want them. Remember that if it's not mined, it's grown. Just I have a problem with doing it in the Himalaya. Waaahhhh...
Post a Comment