After leaving Nepal, Bombay (currently known as Mumbai) was a huge difference.
Upon entering you get the feeling you are in a big city, purely by the differences between the two airports. Bombay looks like our standard western airports: clean, air-conditioned and well organized...and no power-cuts. Did I mention the power went out in the airport in Kathmandu? If you wanted to scare me before a flight in a third world country, there was no better way to do it.
I spent the first few days with my paternal grandparents and was spoiled with all my favourite Indian dishes by my grandmother, God bless her. I'm sure she was slightly disappointed with my appetite however as going from eating two meals a day to eating three huge and delicious meals a day is a lot for my stomach to handle.
I then made my way to my godmother's house where my aunt from Montreal and maternal grandmother were visiting. We made a short trip to Goa, where my family is from and it was amazing. Goa is so different from Bombay. Everything is laid back and has that beach mentality. Speaking of which the beach was great. The monsoons are not a great time to arrive as the water is very rough and quite dangerous so no swimming, but the beach still maintains that paradise feel to it. Little shacks and shops dot the coastline along the beach and one can only imagine how relaxing it must be during the high season. After thoroughly pigging out on delicious Goan dishes including a wide variety of seafood, we headed back to Bombay for me to shop till I dropped. The prices here are just too good not to.
The coolest experience for me has been by far the surgery I viewed. My uncle, a surgical oncologist, took me into the operating theater to watch him perform a lumpectomy (surgical removal of a lump) from a breast. I passed his "no-faint" test by viewing pictures of surgeries without passing out so he let me stand right beside him as I watched him operate. I even dawned the surgical scrubs, mask and hair-net which completed the look. Impressed with my ability to handle the "gore" I'm going to see a throat surgery which promises much more blood...we'll see how I handle that.
I'm heading to Goa again this weekend...I just can't get enough.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
My Nepal Surival Guide
As the end of my trip approaches, I decided to put up few helpful tips as well as observations I have made starting with my arrival in Nepal to now. Hopefully anyone coming here in the future can learn from this.
1. Don't tip anyone at the airport and definitely don't show them you have US dollars in your wallet...you'll be taken advantage of.
2. When buying cotton candy at the Swyanmbunath monkey temple, make sure to keep it OUT OF REACH of monkeys; they WILL take it, violently if need be.
3. If you leave a bar at 11pm in Thamel, make sure you know where you are going, street lights don't exist and Nepalis give awful directions
4. Always drink filtered water...enough said.
5. Never eat street fruit unless you want to have the same issues as you would have should you try unfiltered water.
6. In the village, there is no toilet paper, let alone a western toilet...learn how to use your hands, and make sure to use the left for wiping, the right for eating...you may be stared at otherwise.
7. The chiya pasal (tea shop) in a village basically means community center.
8. If you are shopping, make sure to mention you are from India but studying abroad, instant discount.
9. When hanging out of a microbus with nothing but your hand holding a thin metal rod, make sure to tuck your body in when a bus/car/truck/bike passes in the opposite direction.
10. In addition t0 #9, make sure you have rainwear, a Nepali rainstorm hits hard and fast.
11. If you plan on staying in Thamel, make a budget...then double it, you will definitely spend that much.
12. Don't pet street dogs...
13. Don't pet street cats...
14. Don't look monkeys in the eye
15. If you go to a Pashupatinath and see a cremation (and you will), try to avoid breathing till you are well away from the funeral pyre.
16. If a Nepali quotes you a time, multiply it by 4, I developed this surprisingly accurate formula and tested it...
17. Should you decide to sit on top of the bus, make sure you hold on tightly...very tightly.
18. Make sure you have rainwear handy for #17
19. If you are stuck in a petrol que, don't try and estimate how long it will take you to get out...just start walking, it's more than likely faster!
20. Only use an ATM during bank hours and have a backup should your card get eat or the power goes out
21. If you feel a rumble in the building, its probably an earthquake, don't sit in the building debating whether it was a pre-shock or the real thing.
22. Learn what day your village participates in power load sharing
23. If you decide to shower during a load sharing day, make sure you have an alternate source of light available in the shower, you can't wash what you can't see.
24. Buy hand sanitizer and take it EVERYWHERE
25. Don't bother looking for a garbage bin, you won't find one. Instead look for a trash pile.
26. Don't walk towards/through a banda (strike)
27. Should you decide to ignore #26, go with Nepalis or make sure to stress you are North American...I'm glad I did
28. A nikon camera strapped to your neck means instant 300% markup
29. Every Nepali child knows the capital city of the country (and in some cases, the state) you live in...they are also very good at then proceeding to ask for money for their demonstration of intelligence
30. Every Nepali seems to know a relative/friend in the city you live in...they also seem to think you are kindred spirits as a result and will expect you to buy from them.
I hope you feel prepared enough for Nepal...next, back to India!
1. Don't tip anyone at the airport and definitely don't show them you have US dollars in your wallet...you'll be taken advantage of.
2. When buying cotton candy at the Swyanmbunath monkey temple, make sure to keep it OUT OF REACH of monkeys; they WILL take it, violently if need be.
3. If you leave a bar at 11pm in Thamel, make sure you know where you are going, street lights don't exist and Nepalis give awful directions
4. Always drink filtered water...enough said.
5. Never eat street fruit unless you want to have the same issues as you would have should you try unfiltered water.
6. In the village, there is no toilet paper, let alone a western toilet...learn how to use your hands, and make sure to use the left for wiping, the right for eating...you may be stared at otherwise.
7. The chiya pasal (tea shop) in a village basically means community center.
8. If you are shopping, make sure to mention you are from India but studying abroad, instant discount.
9. When hanging out of a microbus with nothing but your hand holding a thin metal rod, make sure to tuck your body in when a bus/car/truck/bike passes in the opposite direction.
10. In addition t0 #9, make sure you have rainwear, a Nepali rainstorm hits hard and fast.
11. If you plan on staying in Thamel, make a budget...then double it, you will definitely spend that much.
12. Don't pet street dogs...
13. Don't pet street cats...
14. Don't look monkeys in the eye
15. If you go to a Pashupatinath and see a cremation (and you will), try to avoid breathing till you are well away from the funeral pyre.
16. If a Nepali quotes you a time, multiply it by 4, I developed this surprisingly accurate formula and tested it...
17. Should you decide to sit on top of the bus, make sure you hold on tightly...very tightly.
18. Make sure you have rainwear handy for #17
19. If you are stuck in a petrol que, don't try and estimate how long it will take you to get out...just start walking, it's more than likely faster!
20. Only use an ATM during bank hours and have a backup should your card get eat or the power goes out
21. If you feel a rumble in the building, its probably an earthquake, don't sit in the building debating whether it was a pre-shock or the real thing.
22. Learn what day your village participates in power load sharing
23. If you decide to shower during a load sharing day, make sure you have an alternate source of light available in the shower, you can't wash what you can't see.
24. Buy hand sanitizer and take it EVERYWHERE
25. Don't bother looking for a garbage bin, you won't find one. Instead look for a trash pile.
26. Don't walk towards/through a banda (strike)
27. Should you decide to ignore #26, go with Nepalis or make sure to stress you are North American...I'm glad I did
28. A nikon camera strapped to your neck means instant 300% markup
29. Every Nepali child knows the capital city of the country (and in some cases, the state) you live in...they are also very good at then proceeding to ask for money for their demonstration of intelligence
30. Every Nepali seems to know a relative/friend in the city you live in...they also seem to think you are kindred spirits as a result and will expect you to buy from them.
I hope you feel prepared enough for Nepal...next, back to India!
Friday, August 1, 2008
I had a shower...with an elephant
A group of six volunteers decided that a great way to end placement would be to go to Chitwan National Park and take in some natural beauty.
A 5am wakeup call saw us on our way to the tourist bus park to begin our 6 hour bus ride to Chitwan. The ride was an adventure in itself with the bus coming very close to the edge of some cliffs on MANY occasions. Those of you who think the Sea to Sky highway is dangerous, you're all a bunch of babies compared to what I went through! The occasional turned over bus on the side of the road only added to our anxiety, but we got there in one piece.
The first day we met our guide and went on a small walk through the jungle to the river to watch the sunset, it was gorgeous and we got our first view of a Marsh Mugger crocodile. The resort was lovely and we had the whole thing to ourselves since it was the off season.
The next morning was a treat. At 10 am to large elephants came strolling into our resort and we hopped aboard. No saddle, just bareback on a 2 ton pacaderm. The hairs on an elephant are like mini needles poking you, so after the initial excitement of being on an elephant wore off, it was a little uncomfortable. The elephants slowly walked towards the river, yes the same on the crocs are in...and then proceeded into the water. We had no idea. Next thing I knew, the elephant was shaking and I went flying into the river. It was incredible! After being thrown off more than once, I went to the elephants trunk and stood on it, at which point Punam Kali, a 31 year old elephant, lifted me up onto his head, only to shake and throw me back into the water.
1 hour later we dried off in the resort and prepared for our next elephant adventure, a walk through the jungle. We saw a rhino and some deer but unfortunately no tigers. Not surprising since our guide who has 25 years of experience has only seen a tiger 20 times in his life. We also did a dugout canoe ride down the river and saw some crocs and another rhino...however he wasn't happy to see us since he swam directly towards our canoe...quickly. Paddling like crazy our guide managed to fight the current and take us to a point that was acceptable to the rhino because he turned around and went on land.
Overall Chitwan has been the best experience so far here in Nepal and I would highly suggest if you ever get the chance to come here, bathe with elephants!
A 5am wakeup call saw us on our way to the tourist bus park to begin our 6 hour bus ride to Chitwan. The ride was an adventure in itself with the bus coming very close to the edge of some cliffs on MANY occasions. Those of you who think the Sea to Sky highway is dangerous, you're all a bunch of babies compared to what I went through! The occasional turned over bus on the side of the road only added to our anxiety, but we got there in one piece.
The first day we met our guide and went on a small walk through the jungle to the river to watch the sunset, it was gorgeous and we got our first view of a Marsh Mugger crocodile. The resort was lovely and we had the whole thing to ourselves since it was the off season.
The next morning was a treat. At 10 am to large elephants came strolling into our resort and we hopped aboard. No saddle, just bareback on a 2 ton pacaderm. The hairs on an elephant are like mini needles poking you, so after the initial excitement of being on an elephant wore off, it was a little uncomfortable. The elephants slowly walked towards the river, yes the same on the crocs are in...and then proceeded into the water. We had no idea. Next thing I knew, the elephant was shaking and I went flying into the river. It was incredible! After being thrown off more than once, I went to the elephants trunk and stood on it, at which point Punam Kali, a 31 year old elephant, lifted me up onto his head, only to shake and throw me back into the water.
1 hour later we dried off in the resort and prepared for our next elephant adventure, a walk through the jungle. We saw a rhino and some deer but unfortunately no tigers. Not surprising since our guide who has 25 years of experience has only seen a tiger 20 times in his life. We also did a dugout canoe ride down the river and saw some crocs and another rhino...however he wasn't happy to see us since he swam directly towards our canoe...quickly. Paddling like crazy our guide managed to fight the current and take us to a point that was acceptable to the rhino because he turned around and went on land.
Overall Chitwan has been the best experience so far here in Nepal and I would highly suggest if you ever get the chance to come here, bathe with elephants!
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