Arriving in Nepal

August 29, 2013
Who needs roller coasters when you can dart through the streets of Old Delhi  in a rickshaw! We dodged oxen and monkeys, tuk-tuks and fellow rickshaws, cars and lorries. One-way streets with two-way traffic challenged the hordes , upon us beeping and rushing toward the Spice Market or the Wedding Street or the Silver Market. We held on for dear life!

Who's on first: the Moguls, Hindus, Muslims, or Brits? All have vied for power over time, but the Hindis are winning currently by a thread. Mosques and temples and churches abound. But the dead are the most honored ; they dominate the green spaces dotting the city. in sometimes forgotten cemeteries and ancient tombs, and sometimes in the gloriously preserved gardens and .memorials, well-guarded by the India army.

The contrast between the intensity of inner city rampant poverty and clutter and the grandeur of the surrounding wealth continues; also, in the mix  is beloved Gandhi 's  teachings of  unity, simplicity, non-violence, and peace.

Humayun Tomb & Mosque

Buddhist Temple with bird hospital

Mosque

Wedding Street

Delhi is, as so many have said:, color, vibrancy, contrasts, and pride. Delhi wants to be loved. Delhi captures your imagination and stretches your perceptions. Delhi breaths you in. .

Taking Delhi!!!

We in front of Hindu Sikh temple

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Our hotel street ladies of the morning

Bathing at 5AM

Our hotel street is a busy place! Yikes!

Delhi days- August 27-28
 Yes, we made it to Delhi- on a whirlwind adventure of two crazy American women whom all of Delhi stare at incessantly! We  began early day, watching from our hotel window on a back street, the men bathing and setting up their stalls at 5AM. We made it through the throngs of people all celebrating the festival of Krishna. Cars, tuk-tuks, rickshaws, self-selected traffic cops honk and toot continually. With us trying to stay hydrated in the intense heat, Carolyn desperately had to  pee in the bushes (nicer than the alternative of the public restrooms)   at the Red Fortress just prior to the light show about India's history. We had an intriguing and long day sightseeing with a terrific guide.  Poverty and overpopulation are evident all around but that in no way precludes the considerable kindness and good humor that we found throughout. On to more tomorrow with firecrackers going off in our neighborhood at midnight! Till the next installment!

Team Hats

 Team 1 (the ladies) launches Monday, August 26. Team 2 (the men) leaves early September. Larry is sorely missing in this picture. He will put his head in this hat in short order!

Getting ready to fly...

8/17/13 
Alerting the few who might want to follow us on our epic sojourn is not an easy task for someone of limited technical prowess... or lack of, really! But you are warmly  invited to join us vicariously,  if you so choose, on our two month journey !

Here we are at count-down, with four different views of what we need to bring, how we need to eat and sleep and travel, how to stay healthy, and what we might do serendipitously along the way! Do you think four such different people (Larry, Carolyn, Bob and Joan) will survive as a foursome??? Stay tuned for the "reality adventure"  (so to speak)!!!!

Our efforts in the last 3 months are culminated in long lists: procuring visas (3 each); packing for school work; rural Nepal living; trekking and biking; visiting hot and cold climates; finding long-lost friends in remote areas of India, Nepal, China, and Hong Kong; defending against malaria, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, parasites, water, food, and all of Eastern mankind... seems to me these immunizations and drugs and preparations are yet another strategy of homeland security craziness bent on keeping us home... and finally, tickets, passports, hotel rooms, host communications, tech support to keep us in touch with our roots; and the crumbs to find our way home).!! Wow! All to be packed in the smallest bag possible on wheels and portable.  What do you suppose we forgot!

Hopefully, I will add pictures as we begin! Join us if you are so inclined... Cheers, Joanie