Delhi Experience

I need to tell you a few more things I saw in Delhi on Monday. I think I was simply too shocked to put it into words earlier.

It's the capital of India and about 17 million people live there. I went through the city on my way from the airport to the train station. We were on a crowded road (with people and cows) with two or three floor buildings on both sides when my driver told me we were in the downtown area. It looked like no other city, but to speak of capital I've ever seen. I wasn't able to do good observations because I only had one thing in my mind: escape. It was such an overwhelming feeling, I don't think I've ever felt something so strongly in my life.

I know I probably won't be able to avoid bigger cities for the rest of the time I'm here, but I'm going to try anyway.

Vrindavan is just as smelly and dirty as Delhi was, but there's a whole lot other feel to it. It can get chaotic every now and then in the city, but it's still manageable in comparison and there's no one trying to rip you off behind every corner. I've only twice been in the center market area of the town, but both times I haven't felt anything comparable to Delhi.
I guess the absence of tourists makes the difference. They mean easy money to the locals. I'm hoping to find more places like this during my travels. I'm pretty sure the next two planned stays will be rural enough.

So that's it for today. Almost time for dinner and after that I won't stay up for long. Yoga at six in the morning again...

First Yoga Lesson

I just had my first yoga lesson here in the ashram. The teacher is called Sarasvati and like many others here in the Vrinda Kunja, she also comes from the south America, more precisely Colombia. There are eco-yoga villages that operate under the same guru in many south American countries.

I found the lesson very relaxing, even though the mosquitos bothered a little. From the 90 minutes we did asanas for about 45 minutes. The rest was listening to Sarasvati explaining the deeper thought behind yoga. I must say, I'm not very open to all the things she told us about. I'm happy with my life as it is and I'm not thinking of turning into a Hindu. I'm enjoying yoga for my own purposes, not as a way to find the "Unity".

There's no denying that there is a feeling of being converted here. But I think I'm much better able to repel a religion than my mosquito repellant is able to repel mosquitos. So nothing to worry people! I'm not going to return singing Hare Krishna.

Some Pictures

More in my Dropbox folder (link on the right).

Second Day - Time to Work

The night went quite well. I was really tired not having slept much the night before. It was very hot if course, but with the fan in the ceiling it was bearable.

Breakfast

The first thing in the morning was to find a spoon. The office could luckily help me with that. It was nice having a spoon for breakfast, especially since it's just a sort of muesli with a sort of whitish liquid. It tasted ok and is going to keep the hunger away until lunch for sure.

Work
I just oiled a fence for over two hours. It was nothing difficult, but the heat takes it toll. There's going to be another work session in the afternoon. We'll probably continue with what we started this morning. There's not much else to say about it really. Big brush, oil, fence. I'll try to remember to take a picture later.

WiFi
There's still no internet connection here in the Ashram. I asked about it in the office and I just got a simple "sometimes it works, sometimes not" answer. The internet cafe in the town is ok for blogging, but I need to find a way to upload my pictures as well.

First Day Is Over

I tried to get some sleep in the late afternoon, but it didn't happen. I went for a walk instead and took a couple of photos. I can't post them at the moment, because I have no wireless access to my mobile, but I'll let you know when they are online. The stereotype about cows walking all over has been proven to fit Vrindavan at least. It's unfortunately also true that the streets are literally covered with shit and trash. But more about that another time perhaps...

Monkeys
The town and our ashram is full of monkeys. They look really nice, but they aren't. Two people got bitten and attacked in our ashram only. Luckily the living quarters, the temple and office are behind a wire netting and doors you always need to close. Especially the little ones look very cute though.

Dinner
One last thing before I go to bed. I had dinner about 40 minutes ago and that was an experience. We always eat in the temple on the floor. Food is served from big buckets and eaten out of tin plates. I tried to find a spoon yesterday, but the office was already closed. I managed just fine with my fingers, but eating a stew of potatoes and vegetables with just fingers is not that easy. A good thing there was some thin wheat breads served with the meal. It wasn't the tastiest Indian cuisine I've had, but it will keep the hunger away for sure.

That"s it! I've survived my first day in India.

First Day Impressions

I've heard people talking about getting a cultural slap on the face. Now I've experienced it first hand. Nothing could have prepared me for that.

Airport and Delhi

Delhi airport was very uncomplicated actually. All the formalities were over very quickly and before I noticed I had gotten a ride to the train station in a taxi... I have absolutely no idea how much more I paid than I should have, but it was all ok from my point of view.

The train station is where my problems started. My train was cancelled because of heavy rain up north and all the other trains were completely booked. I went to a tourism office and they offered me a taxi instead. The price was of course something else than the train, but I accepted the offer anyway.

Home in Vrindavan - Vrinda Kunja Ashram

I arrived in Vrindavan about an hour ago and then searched for my first home away from home for almost an hour. The taxi driver left me out "close " to the place. It's clear to me now that he had no idea. I asked directions five times and took two rickshaws before I finally got there.

Now I'm sitting in my bed and getting to know this place. There are some other volunteers here as well. I got briefly introduced to some of them, but I have yet to meet my roommate.

I'm going to have a shower next. Walking with my 17 kilo backpack in +32 degrees makes you sweat.

I was too stunned with everything to take many pictures. I also didn't feel comfortable taking pictures of people. I already was looked upon strangely. (And I also was a little afraid to take my camera out of my pocket at some times. I'll try to post some photos still so remember to check them out behind the link on the right.

And So It Starts

Saying Goodbyes
I'm sitting in a train, going to the airport.  I'm happy I'm going. This last week was full of goodbyes and to tell you the truth, I'm not a big fan of them. The last and hardest one was just 20 minutes ago. It was all much harder than I expected.

Vrindavan
Very early tomorrow morning I'm going to land in New Delhi. Then I've got six hours to get from the airport to the train station where my train to Mathura leaves.

My first station on my trip is going to be Vrindavan, a small temple city little over two hours south of Delhi. I need to take a motor-riksa from the Mathura train station. I'm going have opportunities to tell you more about  the town later, because I'm staying there for little over three weeks.