Final Note
Well, I made it home. I became a bit lazy on the emails there at the end. I made some friends and, the beach is a busy place. No time for Internet cafe etc. After leaving Udaipur. I made the long journey down to Goa, Known for it's party scene, just in search of a quiet stretch of beach.
I didn't so much find that but, was impressed with Goa. There were amazing churches and architecture. Once colonized by they Portuguese, the Christian influence is huge. I met lots of Indians with names like Thomas and Francis. They are big on Saint Francis there.
It was a beautiful place and given the churches, Christian icons everywhere and, the introduction of the portuguesesque language of Goan. I did feel at home somehow. I stayed only 4 days but, met some nice girls from England and an Australian guy. Billy, Amy, & Chloe. They were going on a backwater boat cruise on this converted houseboat rice-barge thing.
It launched in the state of Kerala and sails the largest lake in India along with what are called the Keralen backwaters. A little like the Florida Everglades minus the alligators plus endless palm trees. It took us 24 hours of hellish bus and train travel to get there but, man it was worth it. One of the more expensive things I did on the trip but, worth every penny.
3 days two nights sailing this fantastic boat with a three member crew including a chef to prepare all of our meals. The boat was two bedroom, two bath. Amazing. Just floating, swimming and, eating the most incredible fresh seafood.
A highlight of the trip and, finally a truly relaxing experience. I have the guys card and would send you all tomorrow if I could. We then headed down to a beach called Varkala, also in Kerala. I spent the remainder of my trip there reading, relaxing and , eating some of the best seafood curries I imagine I'll ever have. The state of Kerala is wonderful.
The best Indian food in the country. Far lighter than the food in the north and, somehow the people much more friendly, smarter and, less aggressive. I guess just more laid-back. It's hard to say which city I visited was my favorite. Each place had it's ups and downs but, on a whole Kerala is a great spot.
If anyone ever makes plans to make it to this crazy country. Please let me know. I feel like I had the ultimate sampler platter. From the Beach, jungle, desert and, back again. I saw a lot. I figure I logged over 120 hours of train, plane and, bus travel in the last 5 weeks. I'm still processing it all and struggling with some mean jet lag but, in the end...It was the trip of a lifetime. India is full of contradiction and mystery. Indian people are some fo the warmest people I've met in my travels. They're funny and at times misunderstood. They are master thieves & messengers of misinformation. As I've mentioned before. Ask 6 people the same question you may receive 6 different answers. They don't mean any harm they just can't say "I don't know" Too proud I guess. It adds to the adventure. Movement in India is challenging but if you're patient the rewards are great. Ups & downs, good days and bad, nowhere else have I felt the scales tip so far either direction. Such extremes.
Dodging the scammers and thieves you always find someone real and true who'd give you the shirt off their back and all the struggle melts away. Duality, the most extreme wealth and the most extreme and ugly poverty. It's difficult to describe and is best experienced. Sometimes things just don't make sense. I made peace with this fact. I believe all of you should experience this beautiful country and would challenge everyone to get out and see the world.
We Americans don't travel enough. The percentage of Americans that live their entire lives without experiencing these foreign lands is staggering, more that 60 percent. And believe me. We need to get out there and defend ourselves these days. So, I want to know where to pick up my certificate of completion. I made it. Not until you've had explosive diarrhea in a filthy Indian bathroom, on a train speeding though the desert, with no toilet paper at 5 a.m. have you been truly compromised.
Thank you India
Best, Dylan
pictures forthcoming
I didn't so much find that but, was impressed with Goa. There were amazing churches and architecture. Once colonized by they Portuguese, the Christian influence is huge. I met lots of Indians with names like Thomas and Francis. They are big on Saint Francis there.
It was a beautiful place and given the churches, Christian icons everywhere and, the introduction of the portuguesesque language of Goan. I did feel at home somehow. I stayed only 4 days but, met some nice girls from England and an Australian guy. Billy, Amy, & Chloe. They were going on a backwater boat cruise on this converted houseboat rice-barge thing.
It launched in the state of Kerala and sails the largest lake in India along with what are called the Keralen backwaters. A little like the Florida Everglades minus the alligators plus endless palm trees. It took us 24 hours of hellish bus and train travel to get there but, man it was worth it. One of the more expensive things I did on the trip but, worth every penny.
3 days two nights sailing this fantastic boat with a three member crew including a chef to prepare all of our meals. The boat was two bedroom, two bath. Amazing. Just floating, swimming and, eating the most incredible fresh seafood.
A highlight of the trip and, finally a truly relaxing experience. I have the guys card and would send you all tomorrow if I could. We then headed down to a beach called Varkala, also in Kerala. I spent the remainder of my trip there reading, relaxing and , eating some of the best seafood curries I imagine I'll ever have. The state of Kerala is wonderful.
The best Indian food in the country. Far lighter than the food in the north and, somehow the people much more friendly, smarter and, less aggressive. I guess just more laid-back. It's hard to say which city I visited was my favorite. Each place had it's ups and downs but, on a whole Kerala is a great spot.
If anyone ever makes plans to make it to this crazy country. Please let me know. I feel like I had the ultimate sampler platter. From the Beach, jungle, desert and, back again. I saw a lot. I figure I logged over 120 hours of train, plane and, bus travel in the last 5 weeks. I'm still processing it all and struggling with some mean jet lag but, in the end...It was the trip of a lifetime. India is full of contradiction and mystery. Indian people are some fo the warmest people I've met in my travels. They're funny and at times misunderstood. They are master thieves & messengers of misinformation. As I've mentioned before. Ask 6 people the same question you may receive 6 different answers. They don't mean any harm they just can't say "I don't know" Too proud I guess. It adds to the adventure. Movement in India is challenging but if you're patient the rewards are great. Ups & downs, good days and bad, nowhere else have I felt the scales tip so far either direction. Such extremes.
Dodging the scammers and thieves you always find someone real and true who'd give you the shirt off their back and all the struggle melts away. Duality, the most extreme wealth and the most extreme and ugly poverty. It's difficult to describe and is best experienced. Sometimes things just don't make sense. I made peace with this fact. I believe all of you should experience this beautiful country and would challenge everyone to get out and see the world.
We Americans don't travel enough. The percentage of Americans that live their entire lives without experiencing these foreign lands is staggering, more that 60 percent. And believe me. We need to get out there and defend ourselves these days. So, I want to know where to pick up my certificate of completion. I made it. Not until you've had explosive diarrhea in a filthy Indian bathroom, on a train speeding though the desert, with no toilet paper at 5 a.m. have you been truly compromised.
Thank you India
Best, Dylan
pictures forthcoming
posted by jb at 12:51 PM
3 comments
