Well, the past couple weeks have been pretty sweet, I've picked up a whole bunch of Hindi and Chinese phrases, (only the most useful of course), had a few more new friends leave. Coliss, my Suited up Chinoise friend, my roommate Raj, and super sad was my (un)matchable friend Nasim, though she comes back for one day in a week.
We had all this planning this week setting up for the 26th of January, Republic Day in India, because the crowd was supposed to be over 35,000 people and we only got 20,000, meh still pretty crazy to see all the people. Today (the 27th) was actually busier at around 25,000; the reasoning given was the "cold weather" here in India. Psssshhhhhttttttttttttttttttttttt.
Had a really awesome night, with both Coliss and Nasim before they left, Coliss just sitting on the top of the Information Centre gazing at the lit-up Temple. With Nasim we went to this place in the Muslim quarter where you pay 4,000 rupees ($100) 50% of it in advance and 24 hours ahead of time you can order an entire Lamb stuffed and cooked. Minus the head, sadly.
Waking up to the Temple every morning and going to sleep watching it are amazing!
Too bad it's totally Photoshopped....
Pachuca Sunrise, Minus the Bear.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Week One
The First Week has been completed. So far everything that I've done has been very exciting, service is very good and enjoyable, though it's a very good thing that I do not mind repetition or else I may have gotten bored out of my mind!
Sadly, some of my new friends have already left, and more are going every day, but new ones should be arriving soon which will be nice! A bunch of Newzies, (Sarah, Shiva, and Nooshie) and an Iranian have already left (Nika), though Nika may actually be going to UBCO in the next year which would be pretty cool, though slightly deafening, she is a little loud....
Interestingly enough, this week at the temple has been pretty dead, usually it has far more people apparently.
Got a Roommate though! After the first two days sleeping in the spacious guest room I get to share a dorm with a Malaysian named Raj (he's actually a south Indian whose family lives in Malaysia). Of course he is also leaving in 3 days, so a new roommate should be coming soon enough.
And, also I apparently sing along with Icelandic lullabies in my sleep. My subconscious of all things knows Icelandic...
Sæglópur, Sigur Rós.
Sadly, some of my new friends have already left, and more are going every day, but new ones should be arriving soon which will be nice! A bunch of Newzies, (Sarah, Shiva, and Nooshie) and an Iranian have already left (Nika), though Nika may actually be going to UBCO in the next year which would be pretty cool, though slightly deafening, she is a little loud....
Interestingly enough, this week at the temple has been pretty dead, usually it has far more people apparently.
Got a Roommate though! After the first two days sleeping in the spacious guest room I get to share a dorm with a Malaysian named Raj (he's actually a south Indian whose family lives in Malaysia). Of course he is also leaving in 3 days, so a new roommate should be coming soon enough.
And, also I apparently sing along with Icelandic lullabies in my sleep. My subconscious of all things knows Icelandic...
Sæglópur, Sigur Rós.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Touchdown!
First few days have been amazing and exciting! Little scary, arrived, there were some communication errors at the airport. No one was there to pick me up so I went to a hotel, a little sketchy not too bad though; the room was nice and cool looking. Key was really cool, an old clunker complete with ancient lock in the door.
First Night, main song: "One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead)", Stars.
First day at the temple was mostly rest and relaxation a little bit of touring. Coming from the hotel in a taxi, and seeing the Temple materialize through the fog was absolutely amazing and unforgettable.
First day of service was exciting, though a little unnerving, second you make eye contact everyone stares, little remarks in Hindi to each other, Everyone coming up, Bashir! Bashir! Trying to shake your hand. The children are just astonished, it's actually kind of funny. Asked, and it takes a little while to get used to it, hah, everyone wants a picture with the white people with blue eyes as well.
Meeting everyone has been awesome. So far I've met plenty of amazing people, from all over, China, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, France, England, and Iran. Also one fellow Canadian, one of the last people I met so of course, everyone was all "Oh, you're Canadian? Have you met Justin do you know him?" Too bad Justin was from Ottawa...
So first night was a little discouraging but Making to the Temple was astounding. Only sad thing is that many of the people who I have just met and become friends with are all living within two weeks, but many are staying on, and many more will come! Oh and Indian Markets + Bargaining is fun, exciting, and a little scary/annoying.
"Fearless", David Usher. Mostly for the Temple/Idea of the Faith.
First Night, main song: "One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead)", Stars.
First day at the temple was mostly rest and relaxation a little bit of touring. Coming from the hotel in a taxi, and seeing the Temple materialize through the fog was absolutely amazing and unforgettable.
First day of service was exciting, though a little unnerving, second you make eye contact everyone stares, little remarks in Hindi to each other, Everyone coming up, Bashir! Bashir! Trying to shake your hand. The children are just astonished, it's actually kind of funny. Asked, and it takes a little while to get used to it, hah, everyone wants a picture with the white people with blue eyes as well.
Meeting everyone has been awesome. So far I've met plenty of amazing people, from all over, China, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, France, England, and Iran. Also one fellow Canadian, one of the last people I met so of course, everyone was all "Oh, you're Canadian? Have you met Justin do you know him?" Too bad Justin was from Ottawa...
So first night was a little discouraging but Making to the Temple was astounding. Only sad thing is that many of the people who I have just met and become friends with are all living within two weeks, but many are staying on, and many more will come! Oh and Indian Markets + Bargaining is fun, exciting, and a little scary/annoying.
"Fearless", David Usher. Mostly for the Temple/Idea of the Faith.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
The Journey
Tomorrow, I leave for India.
I don't really have all that much to say about that, only that it is going to be a frikkin' Long first leg of the travel, 14 hours on bus, then 12 hours in the aeroport, and then 21 or so hours for the plane! So, by the 4th of January, 2008 at approximately 23:50 Delhi Time, I'll be in India.
15,000 km away.
Soundtrack for the Journey, First Song:
"Leave It All Behind" The Features, Exhibit A.
I don't really have all that much to say about that, only that it is going to be a frikkin' Long first leg of the travel, 14 hours on bus, then 12 hours in the aeroport, and then 21 or so hours for the plane! So, by the 4th of January, 2008 at approximately 23:50 Delhi Time, I'll be in India.
15,000 km away.
Soundtrack for the Journey, First Song:
"Leave It All Behind" The Features, Exhibit A.
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