

Jan. 14,15th, 2010
Email home:
"Hi there,
We just got to Skype with Travis' folks. Wanted to see when you guys were back in town so we could Skype? I think you are out of the country right?
This hotel is better, and has better internet connection. I felt sick last night, nauseous, bloated,
etc. but am feeling a little better this morning.
Mumbai has been crazy, got better with this hotel. Travis posted pictures on his facebook. He has taken over 100 already, but posted only a couple.
Ok, love you guys.
B"
Responses from home:
" Hi Briana; Your head must be spinning! I am using our French friend's computer, and it is taking quite a long time to do this email, as things are not where they are supposed to be on the keyboard: I will look forward to seeing the pix: We will be back in AZ Monday night(email was sent Friday, and I felt like Monday was so far away). - Love, Dad"
" We will set up skype when we get home Glad you chged hotels! Will be great to see all his pictures And you again!!!- Loves Mom" Sent from my iPhone
"So GLAD YOU ARE HAVING A BETTER TIME! They are gone until Monday night. when will you move to the next town? and what is that called? Do you feel safe? I hope all is well...(home stuff)...Gald you are well, probably got sick, adjusting to the time and food difference. -Love you Kelly"
Journal Entry:
"Coming to this new hotel was certainly a nice change from the dump we stayed in the first nights. It looks like a fancy hotel in NYC! It even has cool touch screen lighting, ceiling mounted AC and a wonderful shower. Though our hotel is beautiful, and we finally had a wonderful, steaming hot, yummy meal, Mumbai as a city hasn't gotten any better/easier. This place is hard. Women sleeping on (not in) cardboard boxes on the street, mostly with little kids, some alone or with another woman. Dogs with chunks of skin off their hinds, kitties roaming the streets. Traffic beyond measure (almost literally got hit by a car when trying to cross a busy intersection yesterday), noise, honking, staring. Filth. Sadness. Little kids tapping your legs for money and you are told not to give them anything because the kids are "rented" for begging by the women on the streets, all to be handed over to the mafia. But how can you look at these little faces and not feel utter sorrow. You want to bring them back to your hotel, give them a good meal, bathe them, give them new clothes. But what would that even do? They will just have to go back to living on the street, begging for a living. No chance of getting out of the 'caste' system they are stuck in. Charities. Charities have been the only answer anyone gives to help anyone here. They say your hotel will tell you about reputable charities you can donate to. It's just hard being here. Hard on the soul. I can't believe someone (the germans we met yesterday?) said Mumbai was their favorite city. You have to be fucking blind and soulless. No (fake) Taj Mahal (hotel) and Elephanta Island can eradicate the sorrow here.
I am reading the book Shantaram and he speaks highly of everyone here, everything. He loves India, Mumbai best of all. I'm at the part where he is living in the slums and he makes it seem like everyone is happy. They have safety, family, community, water, friends, and shelter. He said, or 'Karla' said 'sometimes happiness is in direct opposition to the size of your house.' And I have often found this true. Take the stories of these people living in lean-tos the size of two paces by four and how happy they seem. And then like ... (others I've known) who have every imaginable wealth, status, etc. in the world and they are miserable...
(There is vast sorrow in this world..yet) I still find joy in it most days....
(So torn down by everything, Travis and I fight) There is silence and anger. I prayed and I am going to try to reclaim my inner light, smile, be the best person I can be to everyone I meet in India. Some small gesture to the grander picture. And I will start with Travis.
If I can't really smile yet, I will attempt one with this napkin holder...

Images of the poverty in India:
Woman sorting through the trash on the street, collecting..









shanty houses along the water


Images of the animals of India:
Precioso kitty

Doggy getting some shade

Cows, cows, everywhere..


Sightseeing in India:
Gateway of India (located along the seafront)





Thought it was cool this mechanic was dressed in all white! Cajones!

Military presence in front of the Taj Mahal Hotel where the attacks happened last year.


Window display


Trees, again, growing out of buildings

Architecture in Mumbai




Our hotel! Breakfast view

Travis in the hallway, fancy!

Our first real meal. It was so delicious, partly because we hadn't eaten anything real yet at this point, but partly because it was just really good!

And to not disappoint, here are more male hand holding pics :)



No comments:
Post a Comment