After that unforgettable overnight train ride, we took a bus back to the same hotels in Gurgaon that we had stayed in at the beginning of our journey. That afternoon, after naps and showers, some of us decided to venture out into New Delhi on our own. We mastered walking through the busy streets to the metro station, we got our own metro tokens, and found our way to the right gate. Impressive, right? Robyn & Josie led the way. They had already made this excursion on their own at the beginning of the trip, and they knew what to do and where to go. On the metro, there are separate cars for the women and men. This is meant to protect the women from unwanted attention and possible crime. A lot of the creepster men hang out at the dividing line between the cars, staring in at the women [ahem...jonathan...ahem]. We got lunch at some sort of Japanese-ish restaurant and managed to order vegan food with no translator [don't worry...we gave big rupee tips]. Then we went shopping in an underground mall place for CDs and textiles. It was quite an adventure.
Throughout the day, people were leaving for the airport at different times. We had several mass goodbye sessions in the hotel lobby. It seemed like we had just started our journey and that we had just met each other a few days before, so it was heartbreaking to know that the trip was over and we would all have to go our separate ways. Being surrounded by such inspiring and like-minded people, in a setting so far-removed from what we were used to, gave us all a sense of comfort and familiarity in a strange place. It was very important to me, personally, to be able to have people there who could understand all the intense emotions and thoughts I was having. Jonathan brought up the anthropological idea of "communitas", which certainly applies to our situation. The only people who ever truly understand the magnitude of an experience are the ones who are there experiencing it. So as much as I try to convey how great and how different things were on my trip, and as much as others try to understand, no one is really going to quite get it, except for my travel-mates. This alone, I think, will bond us for life.
I am so thankful for having been given an opportunity for such a life-changing experience. Being able to see the world as other people see it and being able to immerse yourself in another culture is such an important part of life and growth. I love people of all stripes, and I believe that seeing how other people live, and connecting with people worlds away, can make anyone a better person. My trip to India will forever be a milestone in my life that I can look back on with wonder and awe. I am a very lucky person to have been given the chance to travel with such amazing people, and to see, hear, taste, smell & feel all that Rajasthan has to offer. India will forever hold a piece of my heart.
On a lighter note, I will now leave you with some photos of various Indian toilets and restroom signage. Wishing for Western toilets and learning the art of squatting were daily parts of our trip, and I haven't included any photos yet, so here you go. Just know that we are all professional squatters now, and not afraid to use ANY public restroom after what we've seen.
laura, darlene, rik, me, blair & amandy waiting to buy our tokens [michael lu]
johanne, jonathan, jennifer & peggy at the metro station [michael lu]
sparkle vest! these are glittery & hip with some indian men [rik ahlberg]
jonathan, peggy, me, jennifer, blair & kathryn at lunch [jennifer turner]
josie, robyn, amandy, darlene, laura, rik & joel at lunch [jennifer turner]
Throughout the day, people were leaving for the airport at different times. We had several mass goodbye sessions in the hotel lobby. It seemed like we had just started our journey and that we had just met each other a few days before, so it was heartbreaking to know that the trip was over and we would all have to go our separate ways. Being surrounded by such inspiring and like-minded people, in a setting so far-removed from what we were used to, gave us all a sense of comfort and familiarity in a strange place. It was very important to me, personally, to be able to have people there who could understand all the intense emotions and thoughts I was having. Jonathan brought up the anthropological idea of "communitas", which certainly applies to our situation. The only people who ever truly understand the magnitude of an experience are the ones who are there experiencing it. So as much as I try to convey how great and how different things were on my trip, and as much as others try to understand, no one is really going to quite get it, except for my travel-mates. This alone, I think, will bond us for life.
the last night [blair stirek]
my henna on the last night, with modifications by jonathan [blair stirek]
johanne & singhji saying goodbye [michael lu]
I am so thankful for having been given an opportunity for such a life-changing experience. Being able to see the world as other people see it and being able to immerse yourself in another culture is such an important part of life and growth. I love people of all stripes, and I believe that seeing how other people live, and connecting with people worlds away, can make anyone a better person. My trip to India will forever be a milestone in my life that I can look back on with wonder and awe. I am a very lucky person to have been given the chance to travel with such amazing people, and to see, hear, taste, smell & feel all that Rajasthan has to offer. India will forever hold a piece of my heart.
On a lighter note, I will now leave you with some photos of various Indian toilets and restroom signage. Wishing for Western toilets and learning the art of squatting were daily parts of our trip, and I haven't included any photos yet, so here you go. Just know that we are all professional squatters now, and not afraid to use ANY public restroom after what we've seen.
squatter toilet [jennifer turner]
take your pick [sandy adams]
women's toilet [blair stirek]
she toilet [colleen holland]
and, last but not least, URINAL MAN! da da da daaa! [jonathan dipratna]
THE END.
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