I have been hearing complains about my spelling and grammar is the wonderful blog and I am going to blame it on the Engrish I have been constantly speaking the last two weeks. I believe the English is having an effect on my superb handle of the English Language.
Well I have been waking up early here in India to preparation of early morning hockey when I get back and I am on my way to before a morning person, well kindof...
I left Macleod Ganj by taxi at 7am and went to Daramasala. From DAramasalla I took a bus to Kangra. From the Kangra bus station I took a Tuk Tuk to near the Train station. I then had a pleasant walk over a suspension bridge to the train station. I then took a 3rd class local train for 6 hrs for the whopping total of 16 ruppies or about 25 cents. I had to stand with my bags on for the first two hours, but it was incredible scenery through the mountains. I then finally got a seat. I had told myself that if I hadn't I was going to bribe someone as I was sick of standing up. The train car had about 30 seats and there were at least 60 people on the train and then may people hanging off both sides. The people were really nice, constantly offering me mangoes, coconut, bedi smokes, I took a lot of photos and the people loved seeing themselves in the display afterward. As a seated passenger I had a duty to help others with their luggage through the windows, hold children if parents did not have seat and of course I was a novelty and the constant stares were ok, as I have started making crazy faces back at people to amuse my self.
After I arrives in Panakot, I was told that there would be a train to Chandigarh. Unfortunately I should have brought my Lonely Planet, as there was not and I then had to take a cycle rickshaw to the bus station for another 6hr bus to reach Chandigarh, then I tuk tuk to a couple of hotels as most of the city seems to be full right now. Oh the life of the luxurious traveler....
I am just sight seeing today is the clean town of Chandigarh and it is incredibly hot.
Perhaps the most important news is 2 more sleeps until I see my Bella!!!
I hope all is well with all of you out there and happy birthday to Kath!
JAcko
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Macleod Ganj- Home of the Dalhi Lama
Lotsa of local buses on roads that reminded me of crazy Asia road of times gone past. I think if any Asian bus driver would imagrate to Canadian they would be put in Canadian prison for being insane as soon as they drove.I guess the single lane highways with soft shoulder certainly do not help there cause.
After recovering in Amistar in a A/C room fit for a backpacker seeking luxury, I heading to the train station with no idea how to get to Macleod Ganj. People said it was a bus and then a taxi at around noon. So I arrived at 11am just to be safe. I got on a somewhat nice A/C coach for a couple of hours until they told me I needed to get off and they pointed at a rickety old clunker and said I need to get on it for an hour then another to the place I could get another bus to Macleod Ganj. Needless to say it reminded me of our last trip to Asia after getting into Macleod Ganj 8hrs later and it was dark.
DWell in the offical home fo the Dalhi Lama, it is backpacker haven, but it was quite nice after not seeing another white person for a full day. There is a full chockerblock of cultures here. Tibetian refugees, Sihks, Hindius, hippies and tones of middle age women from all over the world on the Eat pray love curcuit and of course backpacker who are slowly turning into dirty hippies.
The Dalhi Lama is usually home for a couple days a year and he is not home right now, but there are plenty other gues who like his sense of style wondering the streets.
The rains also came today, I bought a giant umbrella for $4 and set off to see the country side. I think I am at the foothills of the himalya mountain and they are huge, maybe not as tall as the Rockies, but increbily steep, it is a wonder how people build things here and any wonder that what they have built has not fallen into the steep river ravines below, as well.
I have been in India for about a week and I am contantly asked to have my picture taken with Indian people, I kindof feel like a celebrity, but it is getting a little old. Being stared at, not glaced at for most of your day can get annoying, but I guess it is the cost of not being as tanned as them.
I am heading back to Delhi in the next couple of days after I explore the Dahli Lama's temple and a bit of the tibetian history. Then off to the Rat temple in Rajastian.
Happy Birthday to my wonderful sister Vonnie!!!
After recovering in Amistar in a A/C room fit for a backpacker seeking luxury, I heading to the train station with no idea how to get to Macleod Ganj. People said it was a bus and then a taxi at around noon. So I arrived at 11am just to be safe. I got on a somewhat nice A/C coach for a couple of hours until they told me I needed to get off and they pointed at a rickety old clunker and said I need to get on it for an hour then another to the place I could get another bus to Macleod Ganj. Needless to say it reminded me of our last trip to Asia after getting into Macleod Ganj 8hrs later and it was dark.
DWell in the offical home fo the Dalhi Lama, it is backpacker haven, but it was quite nice after not seeing another white person for a full day. There is a full chockerblock of cultures here. Tibetian refugees, Sihks, Hindius, hippies and tones of middle age women from all over the world on the Eat pray love curcuit and of course backpacker who are slowly turning into dirty hippies.
The Dalhi Lama is usually home for a couple days a year and he is not home right now, but there are plenty other gues who like his sense of style wondering the streets.
The rains also came today, I bought a giant umbrella for $4 and set off to see the country side. I think I am at the foothills of the himalya mountain and they are huge, maybe not as tall as the Rockies, but increbily steep, it is a wonder how people build things here and any wonder that what they have built has not fallen into the steep river ravines below, as well.
I have been in India for about a week and I am contantly asked to have my picture taken with Indian people, I kindof feel like a celebrity, but it is getting a little old. Being stared at, not glaced at for most of your day can get annoying, but I guess it is the cost of not being as tanned as them.
I am heading back to Delhi in the next couple of days after I explore the Dahli Lama's temple and a bit of the tibetian history. Then off to the Rat temple in Rajastian.
Happy Birthday to my wonderful sister Vonnie!!!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Amristar and Delhi Belly
Took a great train ride up North to get out of the chaos of Delhi. Indian trains are great if you pay the extra $10 for a six hour journey you can travel in comfort. I am in a place called Amristar in Punjab India right next to the Pakastan border. It is home to the Golden temple which is like Mecca for Sihks. It is crazy the amount of people in this massive temple. I opted for the free accomodation in the temple and ate with the pilraming sihks, it was very cool and definitly a cool experience. I stayed in a massive dorm and then at about 6:30 it hit, delhi belly.... When I was able to bet out of there I found a nice Air conditioned hotel to chill out in and recover. I always think I am a hardcore traveler, but I am not I am soft. I think I am heading to Mcleod Gang home of the Dalhi Lama today, but I am unsure as no one really know when the bus leaves... If not I am going to head to Bikaner.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
India is over whelming to say the least. The traffic is absolutely insane and I am totally surprised did see a million accidents yesterday. I am in Delhi right now and the weather is super muggy and hot but bearable. For some reason I thought that Delhi would be like Bangkok, but it is like Bangkok to the nth degree. People, traffic, construction, animals running around everywhere, its insane, but I am having fun and I miss my Bella. Next stop up north to some place I can not spell but it begins with an A and it is a famous Hindu temple.
Jacko
Friday, July 16, 2010
So it begins...
Well we both have biked our little brains out lately with great friends on adventures across Kananaskis country and we are both ready for another adventure off of two wheels and onto two feet
INDIA
I am leaving on July 19th thanks to a wonderful career in teaching and Vanessa is leaving on July 30th. We both will be home on August 27th.
We are spending a little over half our time up North and then South India
If you would like to see some video of travels before us check out:
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