this is long overdue. ive been trying to wrap my head around all that's happened in India, but i can't seem to put everything in words.i have come to a decision that whatever i may say about India, or what i have said, it will never succumb to what IT really is. Incredible India indeed.
I remember seeing this documentary when i was about 10 in Discovery Channel ( by accident while i was probably waiting for World Class Cuisine ) by this celebrity that i still don't know his name. The setting is in India. That was my first glimpse of the great country. and i remember being amazed by everything that i saw--it was an eye-opening experience. when all i knew back then was the fact that India was a part of Magellan's expedition ( thanks to Hekasi--you'd hear me chuckle when i wrote the word Hekasi ) and nothing more.
The documentary showed the religious traditions, the busy streets, the street food, the colorful backdrop. at least that's all i can remember. but taking a peek on that small window of a different world, i told myself I'll go there someday, without a clue of where India might be or how i'd get there.
i told my sister about this while we we're both watching the documentary ( i don't know how much she can remember ). She immediately said i needed all those vaccinations and meds just so im safe to go there. yes, so typical. my ever safe sister.
So there i was fully vaccinated (thanks to Emirates) and on Malaria tablets for the whole month, ready to take the adventure that is so-called INDIA.
I arrived India two whole days prior to Paolo's arrival. challenging as it may be, but i accept the challenge!
The hotel pick-up drove me from the airport to the hotel at about 4am. not the best time to arrive in a strange city i suppose. especially in India ( excuse me for using the word India when i know i shouldn't generalize when i am only in Delhi, but India sounds much more powerful ) when the streets are not only poorly lit but to be blunt, not lit at all. and the driving skills of the driver (god bless him) is not even called a skill. and the absence of the side mirrors aren't much help. there we were driving blindly on the swirly streets of delhi, as i try to disregard all paranoid thoughts.
seatbelt is broken, hold on to something.
or when he gives you a threatening stare or he turns to a dark, dodgy place (in this case, that's always the case), just jump off the vehicle.
or i can be a hero and fight him off. ok, weapons. closest i got is my perfume and my eyeliner. usually my weapon of choice would be the bottle of wine on my hand but i can only use what i have. perfume and an eyeliner. what are you thinking? giving him a make-over?
but all these unneeded paranoia came to an end when i finally got to the hotel.
then another set of paranoia began.
alone, with no lock inside my room (apparently they don't usually have the manual locks inside because they give you the only key of the room, but i found out later and i can never be too sure). so i slept on my mothball-smelling bed, still with the same clothes on, and shoes---ready to run.
again with the unneeded paranoia. sun came up and i was ready to put this show on the road. had my indian breakfast and met the other backpackers in the building, i felt safer. then i spent some time talking with the hotel staff and found out how nice and helpful they were.
i did the delhi city tour alone. no more paranoia there. well--not quite. there's still the shitty driving, the drinking water, the food and the toilets to be freaked out about but that's just the minor stuff.
my trip to karol bagh was a slightly different experience as compared to my city tour. when the tour is all about culture and heritage, something i clearly appreciate, but the real India is in the streets. this is what i came here for.
it was pure chaos. filth. foul. it was BEAUTIFUL.
vendors trying to sell you just about anything. food being prepared and sold in the not so sanitized of places. traffic in India makes traffic in the Philippines look like child's play (Man up, Philippines!). toilets here makes the one in Trainspotting seem like a 5-star hotel. and everything else just seemed broken down and rugged.
rustic is the perfect word. and as much as it can be offensive to some people, to the sight or the smell, or even to the feel, that's India's charm. old, rustic, chaotic. you have to take it as it is.
and amidst all that beautiful chaos ( i have Paolo to thank for this term) stands at the heart of India, pure beauty--the Taj Mahal.
As i stood before it i just had to pause-- i knew i was in the presence of Greatness.
It was Majestic.Surreal. So beyond words.
I knew that moment there is only one thing i could say, "Sis, i told you i'll get here!" :P
India is a world like no other. India opens up our narrow minds as to what and who else is out there. India takes us on a whirlwind adventure (with ample paranoia) and leaves us in awe. India is a challenge not for the weak of heart. India is a wonder that is beyond Taj Mahal.
India is an experience.
I remember seeing this documentary when i was about 10 in Discovery Channel ( by accident while i was probably waiting for World Class Cuisine ) by this celebrity that i still don't know his name. The setting is in India. That was my first glimpse of the great country. and i remember being amazed by everything that i saw--it was an eye-opening experience. when all i knew back then was the fact that India was a part of Magellan's expedition ( thanks to Hekasi--you'd hear me chuckle when i wrote the word Hekasi ) and nothing more.
The documentary showed the religious traditions, the busy streets, the street food, the colorful backdrop. at least that's all i can remember. but taking a peek on that small window of a different world, i told myself I'll go there someday, without a clue of where India might be or how i'd get there.
i told my sister about this while we we're both watching the documentary ( i don't know how much she can remember ). She immediately said i needed all those vaccinations and meds just so im safe to go there. yes, so typical. my ever safe sister.
So there i was fully vaccinated (thanks to Emirates) and on Malaria tablets for the whole month, ready to take the adventure that is so-called INDIA.
I arrived India two whole days prior to Paolo's arrival. challenging as it may be, but i accept the challenge!
The hotel pick-up drove me from the airport to the hotel at about 4am. not the best time to arrive in a strange city i suppose. especially in India ( excuse me for using the word India when i know i shouldn't generalize when i am only in Delhi, but India sounds much more powerful ) when the streets are not only poorly lit but to be blunt, not lit at all. and the driving skills of the driver (god bless him) is not even called a skill. and the absence of the side mirrors aren't much help. there we were driving blindly on the swirly streets of delhi, as i try to disregard all paranoid thoughts.
seatbelt is broken, hold on to something.
or when he gives you a threatening stare or he turns to a dark, dodgy place (in this case, that's always the case), just jump off the vehicle.
or i can be a hero and fight him off. ok, weapons. closest i got is my perfume and my eyeliner. usually my weapon of choice would be the bottle of wine on my hand but i can only use what i have. perfume and an eyeliner. what are you thinking? giving him a make-over?
but all these unneeded paranoia came to an end when i finally got to the hotel.
then another set of paranoia began.
alone, with no lock inside my room (apparently they don't usually have the manual locks inside because they give you the only key of the room, but i found out later and i can never be too sure). so i slept on my mothball-smelling bed, still with the same clothes on, and shoes---ready to run.
again with the unneeded paranoia. sun came up and i was ready to put this show on the road. had my indian breakfast and met the other backpackers in the building, i felt safer. then i spent some time talking with the hotel staff and found out how nice and helpful they were.
i did the delhi city tour alone. no more paranoia there. well--not quite. there's still the shitty driving, the drinking water, the food and the toilets to be freaked out about but that's just the minor stuff.
my trip to karol bagh was a slightly different experience as compared to my city tour. when the tour is all about culture and heritage, something i clearly appreciate, but the real India is in the streets. this is what i came here for.
it was pure chaos. filth. foul. it was BEAUTIFUL.
vendors trying to sell you just about anything. food being prepared and sold in the not so sanitized of places. traffic in India makes traffic in the Philippines look like child's play (Man up, Philippines!). toilets here makes the one in Trainspotting seem like a 5-star hotel. and everything else just seemed broken down and rugged.
rustic is the perfect word. and as much as it can be offensive to some people, to the sight or the smell, or even to the feel, that's India's charm. old, rustic, chaotic. you have to take it as it is.
and amidst all that beautiful chaos ( i have Paolo to thank for this term) stands at the heart of India, pure beauty--the Taj Mahal.
As i stood before it i just had to pause-- i knew i was in the presence of Greatness.
It was Majestic.Surreal. So beyond words.
I knew that moment there is only one thing i could say, "Sis, i told you i'll get here!" :P
India is a world like no other. India opens up our narrow minds as to what and who else is out there. India takes us on a whirlwind adventure (with ample paranoia) and leaves us in awe. India is a challenge not for the weak of heart. India is a wonder that is beyond Taj Mahal.
India is an experience.
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