Wednesday, December 5, 2007
and then there are days...
...you are just glad they are over and never come back. today was one of those days -- for me. hectic beginning, dreary middle part and just a slightly better ending. despite a big hug and a small walk. despite some cups of hot liquor in the company of a good friend. despite a fun choir practice. the blues remained. quite lasting today. i am just glad to go to bed and finish the day. thank god it is -almost- thursday!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Boby Dylan
I am heading out of town today to see Boby Dylan's works of art. They are shown (for the very first time ever) in a place that most people have either never heard of or have no positive association with at all. The city (Chemnitz) needs a magnet like the art collection more that most cities in the eastern part of Germany. Meeting some friends at the train station in the early afternoon. It's going to be a day out with friends and Bob Dylan. So for all those reasons I am really excited! What a great way to spent a rainy and otherwise dreary sunday afternoon!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Traditional Buddhist teaching
First, rely on the spirit and meaning of the teachings, not on the words;
Second, rely on the teachings, not on the personality of the teacher;
Third, rely on real wisdom, not superficial interpretation;
And fourth, rely on the essence of your pure Wisdom Mind, not on judgmental perceptions.
Second, rely on the teachings, not on the personality of the teacher;
Third, rely on real wisdom, not superficial interpretation;
And fourth, rely on the essence of your pure Wisdom Mind, not on judgmental perceptions.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
november
gosh, it is n o v e m b e r !
my least favorite month of the year. i can not think of a single thing that i like about november. or wait: my best friends birthday. so, i take it back. there is one thing. actually two, now, that i am thinking about it. the sound of the name: november. it sounds smooth and comforting, round...somehow but nothing like the real thing. it does not give away the cold, the lack of light, the lack of colors, particularly outside, the last leaves are lost, trees are bare, the meadows are no longer green but are left in a withering and sad yellowish-brown...november for me is: an icy drizzle, grey sky, you walk around shivering and you can bet on not having an umbrella when you need one.
the best thing about novmeber is the fact that it will pass. december i like due to all the lights (artificial but better than nothing) in the streets, the christmas market, the smell of caramel and almonds and sometimes even snow.
i changed the design of my blog today as i felt that the bright green is not appropriate for this season. however, michael convinced me to stay away from the brown background that i was going to choose.
lucy adjusts well to the season: she just sleeps away the days on warm pillows or next to the heating.
i am going to follow suit and snuggle up with my book and a blanket.
my least favorite month of the year. i can not think of a single thing that i like about november. or wait: my best friends birthday. so, i take it back. there is one thing. actually two, now, that i am thinking about it. the sound of the name: november. it sounds smooth and comforting, round...somehow but nothing like the real thing. it does not give away the cold, the lack of light, the lack of colors, particularly outside, the last leaves are lost, trees are bare, the meadows are no longer green but are left in a withering and sad yellowish-brown...november for me is: an icy drizzle, grey sky, you walk around shivering and you can bet on not having an umbrella when you need one.
the best thing about novmeber is the fact that it will pass. december i like due to all the lights (artificial but better than nothing) in the streets, the christmas market, the smell of caramel and almonds and sometimes even snow.
i changed the design of my blog today as i felt that the bright green is not appropriate for this season. however, michael convinced me to stay away from the brown background that i was going to choose.
lucy adjusts well to the season: she just sleeps away the days on warm pillows or next to the heating.
i am going to follow suit and snuggle up with my book and a blanket.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Tag der deutschen Einheit
Micha und ich feiern diesen Tag immer. Denn ohne die Einheit wären wir nicht zusammen. Seltsame Vorstelllung. Und sicher hätte ich viele von euch auch nicht getroffen--oder zumindest hätten wir uns nicht in Leipzig kennengelernen. Auch wenn wir alle noch mit einer Mauer zwischen den beiden deutschen Staaten groß geworden sind, waren wir doch noch jung genug um diese Veränderungen als unglaublich positiv zu bewerten.
Grund genug ein Gläschen Sekt zu trinken und zu feiern---wo auch immer ihr seid!
Prost!
Grund genug ein Gläschen Sekt zu trinken und zu feiern---wo auch immer ihr seid!
Prost!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Schöner Sonntagsausflug
Johanna ist so süß!
Ach, ihr Lieben, es war schön euch alle zu sehen und die Sonne schien, so wie es sich für einen Sonntag gebührt. Ich fühl mich immer noch zu Hause in Leipzig und das liegt zum Großteil an euch---meinen Freunden! Fühlt euch umarmt, wir sehen uns bald!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Warum gibt es diese Werbung eigentlich nicht mehr?
Ich mag das Schöne dieser Welt
Ich mag den Wind im Roggenfeld
Ich mag es wenn der Tag erwacht
Und die Sonne dazu lacht
Ich mag Plaudern am Nachmittag
Obstkuchen mit Schlag
Ich mag die Lichter meiner Stadt
Diskutier'n bis in die Nacht
Lass mich von deinem Duft verführ'n
Deine Wärme spür'n
Caro. Ich mag dich. Du bist einfach gut.
Ich mag den Wind im Roggenfeld
Ich mag es wenn der Tag erwacht
Und die Sonne dazu lacht
Ich mag Plaudern am Nachmittag
Obstkuchen mit Schlag
Ich mag die Lichter meiner Stadt
Diskutier'n bis in die Nacht
Lass mich von deinem Duft verführ'n
Deine Wärme spür'n
Caro. Ich mag dich. Du bist einfach gut.
Monday, September 17, 2007
indian summer
finally--we got some sun this weekend. had to wait for a long time but indian summer decided to come after all. claire, a good friend from ireland, was here and we breathed in the warmth and the sunshine. seems that both countries did not get much of a summer...so the least we deserve is a beautiful and sunny autum.
i love my life right now: so much time to read and think and sleep and cook and dream and sleep. i am going to visit my jule for a few days....i am excited. the calculated birthday of her child is in november...and i expect to have a great time there-- relaxed and fun as usual when i am with her.
michael is busy, but not burried in work like last year....so life is treating both of us very well.
i love my life right now: so much time to read and think and sleep and cook and dream and sleep. i am going to visit my jule for a few days....i am excited. the calculated birthday of her child is in november...and i expect to have a great time there-- relaxed and fun as usual when i am with her.
michael is busy, but not burried in work like last year....so life is treating both of us very well.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Septembermorgen
Im Nebel ruhet noch die Welt,
Noch träumen Wald und Wiesen:
Bald siehst du, wenn der Schleier fällt,
Den blauen Himmel unverstellt,
Herbstkräftig die gedämpfte Welt
In warmem Golde fließen.
Eduard Mörike
Noch träumen Wald und Wiesen:
Bald siehst du, wenn der Schleier fällt,
Den blauen Himmel unverstellt,
Herbstkräftig die gedämpfte Welt
In warmem Golde fließen.
Eduard Mörike
Ritter Sport Top 5
Michas Top 5:
1. Dunkle Vollmilch
2. Knusperflakes
3. Feinherb a là Mousse au Chocolat
4. Voll Erdnuss
5. Alpenmlich
Caros Top 5:
1. Marzipan
2. Voll Erdnuss
3. Cocos
4. Dunkle Vollmilch
5. Alpenmilch
1. Dunkle Vollmilch
2. Knusperflakes
3. Feinherb a là Mousse au Chocolat
4. Voll Erdnuss
5. Alpenmlich
Caros Top 5:
1. Marzipan
2. Voll Erdnuss
3. Cocos
4. Dunkle Vollmilch
5. Alpenmilch
Thursday, September 6, 2007
my siblings
my little brother has grown so tall, that soon i can not longer call him my little brother. he is almost as tall as i am by now. his feet are nearly as large as michael's. fun to see him grow up.
Traditionelles Katerfrühstück
well, so sorry my english speaking friends, this does not translate well....if you have a hangover you call it breakfast with a tomcat in german. here only metaphorically, as absolutely no alcohol was involved.
anyway: this is me and oscar, my mom's cat. he is adorable and i bet he thinks the same about me. he loves humans and can never part with me, not even when i am having breakfast.
Friday, August 31, 2007
summer of 2007
since it is the last day of august i felt like looking back and sharing my summer adventures. no real vacation this summer as our car turned out to be a costly thing to own--broke down when we least expected it--- money down the drain.
but there was some "cheap" fun, anyway. we went to a festival UMSONST UND DRAUSSEN (for free) to hear some good and funky music. headliner was tito and the tarantula which i personally did not care for. the lead singer seemed too stone to really know what he was doing, but there were some great bands before tito.
after i finshed my internship we spent some time in switzerland at my aunts house. michael was sick for most of a few days but i had a good and relaxed time there.
for a week we took care of my moms house while she was on vacation. fed the cat, watered the plants, enjoyed the garten and hated the rain. it was pouring down for 5 days in a row; felt like in ireland...constant light drizzle.
good thing we had plans: we (that is michael, claudia--good friend of ours and myself) refurbished an old kitchen cabinett. lots and lots of work but at the end of the day we could see the results of what we did--very fullfilling. the pictures speek for themselves, i guess! do you not simple adore my outfit???
went ot celebrate my grandfather's birthday. traditionally-the sun is shining on his special day and we hang out in the garden under an old cherry tree, play games and eat cakes and pies until we burst. (an alle kubb-fans: immer wieder großartig, wir haben dieses jahr definitiv nicht oft genug gespielt--hier weihe ich meine familie ein und sogar mein opa fands super).
the last week of michael's summer vacation was spent leipzig: visiting friends, catching up, enjoying the city.
last weekend michael actually convinced me to go on a longer bike tour (all day). it was great riding along a beautiful river, not too many hills on the way but ripe apples and pears on trees along the roads! took some apples home and made a pie.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
lazy, crazy
have not written for two month...still feels like it is more approriate to blog while traveling.
anyhow.....yesterday wild things happened: michael went down to our basement where our bikes are. he was on his way to work. two minutes later he dashed into the apartment, swearing. his bike and one of our neighbour's was stolen. the two most fancy one, of course. my old wreck was still there. well, michael took my bike and left for school--when ten minutes later my mobile rang. MICHAEL HAD FOUND HIS BIKE ON HIS WAY TO THE SCHOOL, LOCKED, IN FRONT OF A HUGE APARTMENT BUILIDUNG. It was so crazy....he called the police but they-----did nothing but fill out an amaaaaaazing amount of paperwork and act as arrogant idiots. they did not care what would happen to the bike neither did they help to break the lock OR call a locksmith. finally they left, without a greeting, and we just stood there: stunned. WHY ON EARTH DO PEOPLE NOT TRUST IN THE POLICE??? Well, it seems like they are not a lot of help when you need them. So I guarded the bicycle, Michael went to get professional help and we finally retrieved his possession.
i was so angry....
on the bright side: how lucky to have ones bike stolen and get it back---all in one day?
anyhow.....yesterday wild things happened: michael went down to our basement where our bikes are. he was on his way to work. two minutes later he dashed into the apartment, swearing. his bike and one of our neighbour's was stolen. the two most fancy one, of course. my old wreck was still there. well, michael took my bike and left for school--when ten minutes later my mobile rang. MICHAEL HAD FOUND HIS BIKE ON HIS WAY TO THE SCHOOL, LOCKED, IN FRONT OF A HUGE APARTMENT BUILIDUNG. It was so crazy....he called the police but they-----did nothing but fill out an amaaaaaazing amount of paperwork and act as arrogant idiots. they did not care what would happen to the bike neither did they help to break the lock OR call a locksmith. finally they left, without a greeting, and we just stood there: stunned. WHY ON EARTH DO PEOPLE NOT TRUST IN THE POLICE??? Well, it seems like they are not a lot of help when you need them. So I guarded the bicycle, Michael went to get professional help and we finally retrieved his possession.
i was so angry....
on the bright side: how lucky to have ones bike stolen and get it back---all in one day?
Monday, June 25, 2007
ravensburg die zweite
ich mag die stadt immer noch. aber am liebsten wenn die sonne scheint. bisher hat es immer nur nachts gewittert und geregnet und tagsüber war es warm und sommerlich. bisher. seit heute ist alles anders. es ist fies kalt und fühlt sich nach herbst an. eigentlich wollte ich nur im bett liegen, einen film ansehen und kräutertee mit honig trinken. hab meinen inneren schweinehund aber doch besiegt um ins netz zu gehen und der welt wissen zu lassen wie es mir geht: unverändert gut.
micha kommt jedes oder jedes zweite wochenende und auch wenn die zeit unglaublich schnell verfliegt hatten wir immer viel spass. wir beiden mögen den bodensee und das ein-bisschen-wie-am-meer-gefühl beim anblick soviel wassers.
nächstes wochenende fahre ich mal wieder in den osten.ich freue mich schon sehr darauf euch alle (leipziger)zu sehen und die erlebnisse der letzten wochen zu teilen.
unverändert viel spass macht auch mein praktikum. ich mag die beiden frauen, mit denen ich das büro teile. die eine ist aus franken, die andere aus thüringen. kann also nur gut sein... wir albern viel und arbeiten aber auch fleißig. der stapel auf meinem schreibtisch wächst und wächst, aber ich finde es gut eingespannt und gefordert zu werden. ich darf meinen ersten umschlag mit einer illustratorin erarbeiten!
soweit aus dem schwäbischen. gehabt euch wohl!
micha kommt jedes oder jedes zweite wochenende und auch wenn die zeit unglaublich schnell verfliegt hatten wir immer viel spass. wir beiden mögen den bodensee und das ein-bisschen-wie-am-meer-gefühl beim anblick soviel wassers.
nächstes wochenende fahre ich mal wieder in den osten.ich freue mich schon sehr darauf euch alle (leipziger)zu sehen und die erlebnisse der letzten wochen zu teilen.
unverändert viel spass macht auch mein praktikum. ich mag die beiden frauen, mit denen ich das büro teile. die eine ist aus franken, die andere aus thüringen. kann also nur gut sein... wir albern viel und arbeiten aber auch fleißig. der stapel auf meinem schreibtisch wächst und wächst, aber ich finde es gut eingespannt und gefordert zu werden. ich darf meinen ersten umschlag mit einer illustratorin erarbeiten!
soweit aus dem schwäbischen. gehabt euch wohl!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
aus der stadt der türme und tore
zurück in süddeutschland. nach beinahe 10 jahren. ravensburg ist charmant, sehr mittelalterlich, sehr wohlhabend und bildschön.allerdings kommt mit dem wohlstand auch immer eine konservative grundeinstellung und ein für mich zu beschaulicher lebensstil. hier fehlen einfach die studenten, die jeder noch so kleinen stadt leben einhauchen und die homogenität aufbrechen. nichtsdestotrotz fühle ich mich hier sehr wohl. die ravensburger sind etwas kauzig, aber freundlich und offen. in meiner ersten woche habe ich versucht mich mit einem stadtplan jenseits der innenstadt zu einem bestimmten ort durchzuschlagen und plötzlich hielt ein autofahrer mitten auf der straße an, fuhr an die seite und wollte mir helfen: das sind die positiven überraschungen, die das städtchen so bietet.
im verlag ist alles bestens: ich weiss jetzt, dass das die arbeit ist, die ich machen will. ich sitze im büro der beiden volontärinnen und wir haben viel spass zusammen, ab gesehen davon, dass ich jeden tag super viel lerne. ich wusste doch, dass es wirkliche traumjobs gibt! ich lese den ganzen tag kinder-und jugendbücher, zwischendurch darf ich mal etwas kreativ sein, überarbeite manuskripte und recherchiere für diverse projekte.
das wg leben passt auch: wir sind 4 frauen, überraschenderweise gibt es wenig stress ums bad, stattdessen essen wir jeden abend zusammen, fahren zusammen einkaufen und machen oft was zusammen. das haus in dem ich wohne ist eine alte, etwas heruntergekommende, dafür aber umso gemütlichere jugendstilvilla. mein zimmer ist für ravensburg ein echtes juwel: parkett, stuck, 20qm mit abendsonne. ich kann nicht klagen! wir haben sogar einen balkon, ein wohnzimmer, einen bezaubernden, völlig zugewuchterten garten und unglaublich nette nachbarn!
wer mit mir in kontakt treten mag, kann das gerne tun. ich freu mich über mails, briefe oder anrufe:
Raueneggstr.15
88212 Ravensburg
FestznetzNr: 0751-7679695
im verlag ist alles bestens: ich weiss jetzt, dass das die arbeit ist, die ich machen will. ich sitze im büro der beiden volontärinnen und wir haben viel spass zusammen, ab gesehen davon, dass ich jeden tag super viel lerne. ich wusste doch, dass es wirkliche traumjobs gibt! ich lese den ganzen tag kinder-und jugendbücher, zwischendurch darf ich mal etwas kreativ sein, überarbeite manuskripte und recherchiere für diverse projekte.
das wg leben passt auch: wir sind 4 frauen, überraschenderweise gibt es wenig stress ums bad, stattdessen essen wir jeden abend zusammen, fahren zusammen einkaufen und machen oft was zusammen. das haus in dem ich wohne ist eine alte, etwas heruntergekommende, dafür aber umso gemütlichere jugendstilvilla. mein zimmer ist für ravensburg ein echtes juwel: parkett, stuck, 20qm mit abendsonne. ich kann nicht klagen! wir haben sogar einen balkon, ein wohnzimmer, einen bezaubernden, völlig zugewuchterten garten und unglaublich nette nachbarn!
wer mit mir in kontakt treten mag, kann das gerne tun. ich freu mich über mails, briefe oder anrufe:
Raueneggstr.15
88212 Ravensburg
FestznetzNr: 0751-7679695
Friday, May 25, 2007
funny stripes
claudia and i realized that in order to keep up with recent fashion trends we needed some stripes! so we bought identical shirts and loved the funky-stripy feeling! we match perfectly (or almost at least) with lucy's stripes.
ice scream, you scream, we all scream for....
claudia was visiting. much fun was had and loads of ice cream were devoured. in case you have not heard it yet: we had the best ice cream parlor north of the alpes!!!! claudia is our witness! please notice michaels blissful stare at this cone!
Monday, May 21, 2007
monday adventures
tested one of the near by lakes today. we had to take the car tough as it is quite far and i would have rather taken the bikes. strange for me was that they charge you an enterance fee, just like at a public pool which i guess it somehow is but all the lakes in leipzig war free! i just felt wrong and i missed the lakes in leipzig....especially because the water quality was poor and the lake small.
HOWEVER great fun was the water slide there!!!! they only reason really to go into the bloody cold water. once you made it into the water it was fine though and we went for a longer swimm. it felt like summer today and i loved the last days.
finishing the second harry potter tonight, probably.
planing to go and see my family this weekend. my sister was supposed to come and visit us here but now she is sick and can not ride the train, so we go to keep her company.
just finished eating dinner: it was indian food tonight. i loved eating with my hands again. we had spicy green beans, dal and rice of course. getting better in preparing the dishes everytime i make indian food. the green beans in particular are amazing. anyway, THANK YOU MAY for the indian cook book, you are right, it is my cooking bible.
HOWEVER great fun was the water slide there!!!! they only reason really to go into the bloody cold water. once you made it into the water it was fine though and we went for a longer swimm. it felt like summer today and i loved the last days.
finishing the second harry potter tonight, probably.
planing to go and see my family this weekend. my sister was supposed to come and visit us here but now she is sick and can not ride the train, so we go to keep her company.
just finished eating dinner: it was indian food tonight. i loved eating with my hands again. we had spicy green beans, dal and rice of course. getting better in preparing the dishes everytime i make indian food. the green beans in particular are amazing. anyway, THANK YOU MAY for the indian cook book, you are right, it is my cooking bible.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
mit knut geht's gut...
...sehe gerade zum ersten mal bilder von KNUT, weil der rummel um die geburt des eisbären in indien ja völlig an mir vorbei ging. also der lütte is nu wirklich niedlich. sogar siegmar gabriel ist nach berlin gefahren um ihn zu streicheln.
33% fett enthält eisbären-milch übrigens.
knut ist übrigens ein super name- reimt sich mit gut, mut, hut, flut, glut....
33% fett enthält eisbären-milch übrigens.
knut ist übrigens ein super name- reimt sich mit gut, mut, hut, flut, glut....
Ritter Sport II
Ich habe es ja schon mehrmals erwähnt: wir lieben die Schokolade dieser Firma. Seit heute noch vielmehr, denn wir bekamen heute morgen eine Tafel der 40%igen Vollmilch Schokolade PER POST zugeschickt. Kann sein das dies eine großangelegte Promoaktion ist, aber vielleicht hat sich auch einfach nur rumgesprochen, dass wir große Fans der neuen Sorte sind!
Go, Ritter Sport, go!!!
Go, Ritter Sport, go!!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
did you know
...that the average life expectancy of afro-americans in the UNITED STATES are lower than people living in kerala, one of the states in the south of INDIA. this is due to the fact that kerala, unlike the US, has a broad health care system that is easily available for everyone.
settling in
cultur schock surely worked both ways for me. after about 6 weeks, i feel like i am starting to like the german way of life again. today is a good day. after over a week of daily rain it finally stoppped and despite some remaining clouds it is rather warm.
now there are 2 weeks left for me here in weimar, then i am moving on. michael still tries to ignore the fact that i am leaving soon and in a way i do too. june first will be the beginning of my adult life, it seems. sure i earned my own living before and yes, i have also been places where i did not know anyone (many times actually). however, this is the first 9-5 job for me in a while and i guess i will be quite an adjustment after weeks of traveling and two month in germany of doing whatever i please. the six month of leisure time that i had just for myself are coming to an end, quickly, as i am starting to realize. i am not too worried about the future but sometimes slightly uneasy about this moving into the real adult world--after all, you can not live the student life forever. at least people tell me so. i do wish though, i could do it for just a little while longer. while being in india i have been good at dealing with surprises and even rough changes but who knows if it'll be the same here, in germany.
started to re-read the harry potters, to prepare for the seventh novel HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. by the way i read in the newspaper today that j.k.rowling is planing on another book after that one. apparently the income of the eights book will be donated to charity.
now there are 2 weeks left for me here in weimar, then i am moving on. michael still tries to ignore the fact that i am leaving soon and in a way i do too. june first will be the beginning of my adult life, it seems. sure i earned my own living before and yes, i have also been places where i did not know anyone (many times actually). however, this is the first 9-5 job for me in a while and i guess i will be quite an adjustment after weeks of traveling and two month in germany of doing whatever i please. the six month of leisure time that i had just for myself are coming to an end, quickly, as i am starting to realize. i am not too worried about the future but sometimes slightly uneasy about this moving into the real adult world--after all, you can not live the student life forever. at least people tell me so. i do wish though, i could do it for just a little while longer. while being in india i have been good at dealing with surprises and even rough changes but who knows if it'll be the same here, in germany.
started to re-read the harry potters, to prepare for the seventh novel HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. by the way i read in the newspaper today that j.k.rowling is planing on another book after that one. apparently the income of the eights book will be donated to charity.
Monday, May 7, 2007
lawn rage
hab einen krassen artikel in der süddeutschen gelesen. Laut ted steinberg, der umwelthistoriker und autor des buches "american green" ist, ist in amerika der "rasen zum fetisch" geworden. demnach gehören zwanghaftigkeit und obsessive rasenpflege zusammen. jedes har gibt es fälle von lawn rage: da werden (im extrem fall) menschen getötet, weil der rasen ungefragt überquert wird!
der umsatz der riesigen industrie, die sich mit rasenpfleg beschäftigt, wird auf 40 millionen dollar jährlich geschätzt, mehr als das bruttoinlandsprodukt von ganz vietnam.
rasen bedeckt in den usa zwischen 10 und 20 millionen hektar land, mindestens doppelt soviel wie für den anbau von baumwolle genutzt wird.
30 prozent des brauchwassers an der ostküste und 60 prozent an der westküste dienen der bewässerung des rasens!
weit mehr als 30 millionen kilogramm pestizide und düngemittel werden jährlich über amerikanischen rasen ausgestreut - davon landen 80 prozent in der kanalisation und im grundwasser.
der umsatz der riesigen industrie, die sich mit rasenpfleg beschäftigt, wird auf 40 millionen dollar jährlich geschätzt, mehr als das bruttoinlandsprodukt von ganz vietnam.
rasen bedeckt in den usa zwischen 10 und 20 millionen hektar land, mindestens doppelt soviel wie für den anbau von baumwolle genutzt wird.
30 prozent des brauchwassers an der ostküste und 60 prozent an der westküste dienen der bewässerung des rasens!
weit mehr als 30 millionen kilogramm pestizide und düngemittel werden jährlich über amerikanischen rasen ausgestreut - davon landen 80 prozent in der kanalisation und im grundwasser.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
für alle schokoladen fans
wie die meisten von euch wissen kaufe ich aus prinzip und überzeugung ritter sport und ich mag deren aktuelle werbekampagne (obwohl die das doch gar nicht nötig haben!).
claudia und gesine: isses nicht cool?
claudia und gesine: isses nicht cool?
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
leipzig impressions
it was great fun to be back in leipzig but somehow michael and i realized that it did not feel the same. we took pictures of the city, something you never do in the place where you life....just because it is home. anyway, good to be back.
graduation
very fun evening that started kind of stressful as we were stuck in a traffic jam and i feared to miss the whole event. well i did not and here are the pictures to proove it. enjoy!
back home
i have been planning to write about my journey back home (easy, relaxed, meet fun people, arrived safely) and my first few days here for so long-- but then time flew by and i was so busy catching up with friends and my family that i completely neglected my blog and emails for that matter. now i have been back for 3 weeks already and so many things happened. the april weather is gorgous. everyone is complaining about global warming but i just love the fact that we are having 28 degrees and no rain in april!!!!! loving it! the first days were rough, arriving in frankfurt ( wearing flipflops because i gave my sneakers away in hampi) and almost freezing to death as i was greeted with crisp 8 degrees. just slightly shocking after coming from the beach and over 30 degrees every day for the past month before that. anyway.
easter holidays were cold but a lot of fun with my family. my sister and i goofed off all the time and i laughed so much! besides, i ate constantly for the 4 days that i spent at home.....food all day, every day!
right now i am determined to like the small town life that i am facing here in weimar. it is pretty town, very picturesque, just a bit too touristy and quiet for my taste. there are only 3 movie theaters in this town, just imagine!!! many parks, though, cute little cafes, a nice city center...and i think some days i even like the tranquility and the slow pace of weimar. as i have a lot of time to sit outside in our little garden i got to meet almost all our neighbors. all of them are easy going and fun to talk to! i even made friends with four little girls: lotte, ida, ronja and lea live next door. the youngest is 2, the oldest of the sister is 9. especially the little ones love me dearly and come over (the live next door) every time they see me outside to snuggle with me, sit on my lap or play ball with me. they are really adorable even though i never get to read the book i am carrying with me.
michael and i spent a lot of time in leipzig as we both feel really attached to the city. i guess we both sort of consider leipzig as the place where we are most comfortable and feel most at home. of course i made indian food for my friends and we went clubbing, played in the park--just the things that we usually do. pictures tell the rest.
easter holidays were cold but a lot of fun with my family. my sister and i goofed off all the time and i laughed so much! besides, i ate constantly for the 4 days that i spent at home.....food all day, every day!
right now i am determined to like the small town life that i am facing here in weimar. it is pretty town, very picturesque, just a bit too touristy and quiet for my taste. there are only 3 movie theaters in this town, just imagine!!! many parks, though, cute little cafes, a nice city center...and i think some days i even like the tranquility and the slow pace of weimar. as i have a lot of time to sit outside in our little garden i got to meet almost all our neighbors. all of them are easy going and fun to talk to! i even made friends with four little girls: lotte, ida, ronja and lea live next door. the youngest is 2, the oldest of the sister is 9. especially the little ones love me dearly and come over (the live next door) every time they see me outside to snuggle with me, sit on my lap or play ball with me. they are really adorable even though i never get to read the book i am carrying with me.
michael and i spent a lot of time in leipzig as we both feel really attached to the city. i guess we both sort of consider leipzig as the place where we are most comfortable and feel most at home. of course i made indian food for my friends and we went clubbing, played in the park--just the things that we usually do. pictures tell the rest.
Monday, April 2, 2007
coming home
in less than 48 hours i will be back on german ground. surreal and bizarr. hard to imagine to swap the beach and this idyllic setting for the german april weather but then i am looking forward to be with my friends and family. especially the easter holidays will be fun, loads of great food made by my mom that awaits me!
did some last minute shopping today and started to worry about packing (in the furthest possible corner of the back of my mind).
found a great yoga class that i enjoyed so much and that i will miss tremendously. doing yoga in the morning with the sound of the surf, sitting on sand underneath palm trees and looking out on a small lake--that is hard to top.
decided to keep this blog and continue writing. as going to india is a state of mind really. will post some more pictures of the last week when i get back. possibly even some indian music. those of you that i will see back in germany--i am looking forward to catch up on gossip, have some great cocktails (goa's cocktails so far suck pretty much), go out to dance, prepare some indian food and much more....
with much love, the last post from india.
did some last minute shopping today and started to worry about packing (in the furthest possible corner of the back of my mind).
found a great yoga class that i enjoyed so much and that i will miss tremendously. doing yoga in the morning with the sound of the surf, sitting on sand underneath palm trees and looking out on a small lake--that is hard to top.
decided to keep this blog and continue writing. as going to india is a state of mind really. will post some more pictures of the last week when i get back. possibly even some indian music. those of you that i will see back in germany--i am looking forward to catch up on gossip, have some great cocktails (goa's cocktails so far suck pretty much), go out to dance, prepare some indian food and much more....
with much love, the last post from india.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
the days are just packed
if you wonder what i do with so much time on my hands-- well, let me tell you, the days are just packed and time flies by:
sleeping: 9 hours
eating and waiting for food: 4 hours
reading: 3 hours
Yoga: 1,5 hours
swimming, beach activities: 3 hours
shower, changing clothes: 1 hour
internet: 1 hour
that leaves 1,5 hours a day that you can easily spent just watching people on the beach or the fisherman sorting out their catch, talking to people.....
last night i went out (a proper night out, involving dancing and alcohol). was fun dancing on the beach surrounded by coconutpalms with the pale moon above you. went to bed at 2, got up this morning at 8, to go to my yoga class. right now i am ready for a siesta and some ice in the sunshine.
sleeping: 9 hours
eating and waiting for food: 4 hours
reading: 3 hours
Yoga: 1,5 hours
swimming, beach activities: 3 hours
shower, changing clothes: 1 hour
internet: 1 hour
that leaves 1,5 hours a day that you can easily spent just watching people on the beach or the fisherman sorting out their catch, talking to people.....
last night i went out (a proper night out, involving dancing and alcohol). was fun dancing on the beach surrounded by coconutpalms with the pale moon above you. went to bed at 2, got up this morning at 8, to go to my yoga class. right now i am ready for a siesta and some ice in the sunshine.
Friday, March 30, 2007
the final countdown
it is coming to an end, slowly but it is. 4 more days to go and then i have to leave this idyllic spot to face a 24 hour journey to get back home, home meaning germany. at this point (after travelling for more than 48 hours) this is really not that shocking and i am not worried about the trip at all. after 3 month in india i am pretty tough when it comes to getting to places.
i have not started to worry yet about how to fit all my things into my backpack and i will do do that for another 3 days. i might be close to the 20 kg limit that the airline allows you to carry. i worry about that later as well. worry when the time comes.
johanna has left this morning, at 5 am. exchanged very tired goodbuy hugs and i went back to bed for another 5 hours of sleep. met a new friend at the beach as soon as i got up this morning. so i guess i am not meant to be alone in this country.
went to blue planet for breakfast, stroked "my" cat there. she comes to visit me every day, her fur is cream-colored and ever so soft and despite the fact that she is full of fleas, i love her dearly and allow her to sit on my lat while i eat my breakfast consisting of muesli fruit curd (yogurt).
worst problems at the moment:
my tan lines and my peeling shoulders....what am i going to eat for dinner? where to go for beers?i guess one might say, i don't really have issues at the moment.
i have not started to worry yet about how to fit all my things into my backpack and i will do do that for another 3 days. i might be close to the 20 kg limit that the airline allows you to carry. i worry about that later as well. worry when the time comes.
johanna has left this morning, at 5 am. exchanged very tired goodbuy hugs and i went back to bed for another 5 hours of sleep. met a new friend at the beach as soon as i got up this morning. so i guess i am not meant to be alone in this country.
went to blue planet for breakfast, stroked "my" cat there. she comes to visit me every day, her fur is cream-colored and ever so soft and despite the fact that she is full of fleas, i love her dearly and allow her to sit on my lat while i eat my breakfast consisting of muesli fruit curd (yogurt).
worst problems at the moment:
my tan lines and my peeling shoulders....what am i going to eat for dinner? where to go for beers?i guess one might say, i don't really have issues at the moment.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
beach-sun-beach-swim
it is amazing how little you can do and not get bored. i spent my days reading, laying at the beach, swimming, eating (pineapple!), taking a walk along the shore, watching movies, drinking beer or cocktails, writing mails, occasionally do some laundry...
the sea is so warm, it is like a bath tub. even at night (me and johanna went for a midnight dip last night) the water has a pleasant temperature. during the day the water feels like 30 degrees.
yesterday we got up early to go on a boat trip to see the dolphins. we saw many of them, jumping out of the water and coming quite close to our boat. it was beautiful!
johanna and i are good travel companions! especially here in palolem we take things easy and just go with the flow. we spent a lot of time on our balcony watching people, smoking a cigarette and eating pineapple or drinking a beer at night. we play like little kids in the water and have a lot of fun. johanna sleeps like 14 hours a day and i tease her about it but then i just get up and go for a swim in the morning and read until she gets up. we never argue but seem to be on the same level. the beauty of our friendship is that we can have amazing conversations but also enjoy silence and be comfortable in each others company even when not talking.
we seem to complete each other: she has the torch and the pocket knife, i have the sunscreen and the bug repellent. just little things like that, make it seem like we were meant to meet. she is leaving tomorrow and i will surely miss her.
our favorite restaurants:
the blue planet: organic food, belongs to a german woman. amazing breakfast, they have scrambled tofu and great juices.
smuggler's inn: british pub, the owner is from the uk. great food though a little pricey. the best thing is that they have a little room where you can watch movies and they have a decent selection to choose from.
cuba: nice place to chill at night, though they do not have our favorite brand of beer.
cafe del mare: chilled location to hang out after dinner, can smoke the waterpipe, the cocktails are so so (the add sprite to a mojito....what can you do????).
the sea is so warm, it is like a bath tub. even at night (me and johanna went for a midnight dip last night) the water has a pleasant temperature. during the day the water feels like 30 degrees.
yesterday we got up early to go on a boat trip to see the dolphins. we saw many of them, jumping out of the water and coming quite close to our boat. it was beautiful!
johanna and i are good travel companions! especially here in palolem we take things easy and just go with the flow. we spent a lot of time on our balcony watching people, smoking a cigarette and eating pineapple or drinking a beer at night. we play like little kids in the water and have a lot of fun. johanna sleeps like 14 hours a day and i tease her about it but then i just get up and go for a swim in the morning and read until she gets up. we never argue but seem to be on the same level. the beauty of our friendship is that we can have amazing conversations but also enjoy silence and be comfortable in each others company even when not talking.
we seem to complete each other: she has the torch and the pocket knife, i have the sunscreen and the bug repellent. just little things like that, make it seem like we were meant to meet. she is leaving tomorrow and i will surely miss her.
our favorite restaurants:
the blue planet: organic food, belongs to a german woman. amazing breakfast, they have scrambled tofu and great juices.
smuggler's inn: british pub, the owner is from the uk. great food though a little pricey. the best thing is that they have a little room where you can watch movies and they have a decent selection to choose from.
cuba: nice place to chill at night, though they do not have our favorite brand of beer.
cafe del mare: chilled location to hang out after dinner, can smoke the waterpipe, the cocktails are so so (the add sprite to a mojito....what can you do????).
Monday, March 26, 2007
traveling to paradise
...was quite adventurous, as usual. we took a rickshaw from hampi to hospet (30 min.), then a local train from hospet to hubli. local train means that there is no seat reservation, you just get on and hope you can fit in, somewhere. well, we got on and (miracles happen in india, you just have to believe in it!) even got seats. sitting on a wooden bench for 4 hours was challenging, especially because there were 6 people sharing the bench that was made for 3 persons. well, lets just say, that i had a puking infant next to me, who manage to get most of the puke on the bench, but some of it on me. that's how the journey started and i was not so happy for some parts but then the humor got the better part of me and we just laughed it off. what else to do? we had dinner at the railway station in hubli, got on the right train (after being yelled at my some clerk at the tracks...so random!), managed to sleep a little and - much more important- woke up in time to get off the train at 6 am in the morning. then took 2 rickshaws and a bus and...tatataaaa...here we are. safe and sound!
close to paradise
people, i am in goa, palolem beach. it is amazing. the beach is so white, the ocean so warm, the sky so blue. the beach is a little enclave, you see hills in the distance and there are fishing boats at the shore. it is ever so idyllic. we stay in a beach hut with a little balcony that looks out on the ocean. johanna who only wanted to spent a few days here is thinking about staying the whole week. the place sucks you right in. we got here this morning around 8, have been swimming in the ocean twice since then, ate organic food at a charming little cafe, met some isrealis that we befriended in hampi...life is good. how in the world am i going to life without the wonderful fruits here: the sweetest pineapples, papayas, coconuts (not technically a fruit, friends, i am aware of that)...? life here is good, like a said, paradise. still 40 degrees but with the ocean breeze you don't notice it and if you are too hot? you just go for a dip. i hope i am not making anyone jealous???
Sunday, March 25, 2007
hampi
hampi is magical. some archeologists discovered ruins of a complete village that was built in the 14th and 15th century some 30 years ago. before this the village was practically a ghost town. now it is revived and full of tourists. it is off season now, though. rather quiet. we have 40 degress every day, at night still 30 degrees. a few days were unbearably hot, but there is a lake nearby where we went swimming twice (after the second time i lost my bikini on the way...so good thing we are going to goa tonight, where i will be able to buy a new one....). we were not immediately charmed by this place but took 2 days to fall in love. the landscape is ravingly beautiful. huge rockformations, red spoil, green wheat and rice fields, a river wiht bathing ghats just like in varanasi and pushkar where people wash, swimm, bathe, shave, live.... and then there are the ruins. simply amazing. the ruins are spread out over a large aera, temples (one underground), public bath, queen's palace, elephant stables, quuen's bath...water pavillion...the masonry contains small details that stun and amaze you. one of the temple is part of the UNESCO world heritage and has musical pillars that look so fragile and delicate and still manage to survive all those years.
we watched the elephant that lives in a temple here in the village being washed at the river yesterday morning. great fun.
we rented scooters to explore and bikes twice. went to a monkey tmeple, climbed up 600 stairs (at 9 in the morning, because any time after that the heat kills you) and managed not to freak out too much when 50 monkeys surrounded us.
swam at the lake, despite the sign, that swimming is prohibited because of the crocodiles.
watched a movie every night (fight club, snatch, 21 grams, fear and loathing in las vegas, city of god).
have a favourite place to eat called the mango tree. the restaurant is outside underneath a huge mango tree. the restaurant has 4 plateaus where you sit on the fllor and a swing (which i love and spent many hours on). the view from there is such a treat: rice fields, cows and birds, the mangos above you (not ripe yet, it is not the season), coconut palms, the river, some wehite wached houses with straw-thached roofs in the distance as well as some of the enormous rocks that you see all over Hampi.
it is so close to paradise.
we live on hampi island. in order to get there you need to take a boat or wade through the river (water up to your hips). last boat is a 6. in case you miss it you cross the river in a little carcole (which is basically a large weaved basket)- you get wet feet but otherwise it is loads of fun. or course you pay a furtune for the boat after 6. on our side of the river the guesthouses are amazing, great view, beautiful garden, fields behind the houses. we loved it.
our guesthouse belongs to a supernice woman and we enjoyed staying there a lot. we spent quite some time on the bed-swings in front of our room looking up at the palm and mango trees above you.
now i am heading to goa, the beach. about one person a week dies from falling coconuts there!
all there is left for me to do is read and get a tan. johanna will be coming with me so it is promising to be loads of fun.
cheers to you all!
we watched the elephant that lives in a temple here in the village being washed at the river yesterday morning. great fun.
we rented scooters to explore and bikes twice. went to a monkey tmeple, climbed up 600 stairs (at 9 in the morning, because any time after that the heat kills you) and managed not to freak out too much when 50 monkeys surrounded us.
swam at the lake, despite the sign, that swimming is prohibited because of the crocodiles.
watched a movie every night (fight club, snatch, 21 grams, fear and loathing in las vegas, city of god).
have a favourite place to eat called the mango tree. the restaurant is outside underneath a huge mango tree. the restaurant has 4 plateaus where you sit on the fllor and a swing (which i love and spent many hours on). the view from there is such a treat: rice fields, cows and birds, the mangos above you (not ripe yet, it is not the season), coconut palms, the river, some wehite wached houses with straw-thached roofs in the distance as well as some of the enormous rocks that you see all over Hampi.
it is so close to paradise.
we live on hampi island. in order to get there you need to take a boat or wade through the river (water up to your hips). last boat is a 6. in case you miss it you cross the river in a little carcole (which is basically a large weaved basket)- you get wet feet but otherwise it is loads of fun. or course you pay a furtune for the boat after 6. on our side of the river the guesthouses are amazing, great view, beautiful garden, fields behind the houses. we loved it.
our guesthouse belongs to a supernice woman and we enjoyed staying there a lot. we spent quite some time on the bed-swings in front of our room looking up at the palm and mango trees above you.
now i am heading to goa, the beach. about one person a week dies from falling coconuts there!
all there is left for me to do is read and get a tan. johanna will be coming with me so it is promising to be loads of fun.
cheers to you all!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
future plans
i forgot to mention. will be moving again, traveling once more for 24 hours. leaving early tomorrow morning for hampi in karnataka, long way towards the westcoast. heard it is a magical place! everyone told me to go, so i do.
pondi
took am extended day trip from mamallapuram to pondicherry. spent one night here, leaving my big bag with johanna here in mamallapuram which was such a relieve--travelling light for a change! pondicherry is ever so lovely, i was quite charmed by it. many buildings from the times when it was a frensh colony. borad and paved streets that are clean and easy to walk on. guys, you actually have road signs here, just imagine. i got a childish thrill out of pronouncing the frensh names and just loved the feel of the place. nice sea breaze, made the heat tolerable, same as here in mamallapuram.
went to see the aurobindo ashram, founded by aurobindo-now a famous guru. i bought a book about him and are determined to read more about his ideas. also went to the paper factory that belongs to the ashram where handmade paper is being produced. i was in paradise....you can walk around and see who they produce the paper and then of course there is a showroom where you can shop. they had the most lovely things you can imagine. just walking around and looking at the colorful paper made me happy. may, yes, you would say: simple mind, simple pleasure!
went to the pondicherry museum where a random collection of old coins, stones, minerals, furniture, paintings, and exhibits from a dig near pondicherry where shown. quite loved it for the chaotic atmosphere, felt more like a flea market than anything. this is what i love mostabout india, there is so much space for development, scope for the imagination!!!
also went to explore the gorgous bontanical garden. all in all i was glad that i went, could have spent much more time there, though. next time!
went to see the aurobindo ashram, founded by aurobindo-now a famous guru. i bought a book about him and are determined to read more about his ideas. also went to the paper factory that belongs to the ashram where handmade paper is being produced. i was in paradise....you can walk around and see who they produce the paper and then of course there is a showroom where you can shop. they had the most lovely things you can imagine. just walking around and looking at the colorful paper made me happy. may, yes, you would say: simple mind, simple pleasure!
went to the pondicherry museum where a random collection of old coins, stones, minerals, furniture, paintings, and exhibits from a dig near pondicherry where shown. quite loved it for the chaotic atmosphere, felt more like a flea market than anything. this is what i love mostabout india, there is so much space for development, scope for the imagination!!!
also went to explore the gorgous bontanical garden. all in all i was glad that i went, could have spent much more time there, though. next time!
Friday, March 16, 2007
loving mamallapuram
i have a really good time here. love the beach, love the ocean, the smell of fish. it is so hot here. the people say the summer is starting, that means that we have temperatures above 35 degress every day. can not sleep without the fan going but i love the heat and i deal quite well with it. visited many old temples and an orphanage. this place has been famous for stone carving for decades and you see people working on sculptures all over town. it is a small but touristic place with many people trying to sell stuff to you but it is still enjoyable. the south is very differnt from the north. they drink coffee here instead of the chai-that i am addicted to at this point! the chai here is not as good as up north though. otherwise the food is different but i have to dedicate more time to the food that just a few lines. i love indian food whereever i go and here it is more spicy and obviously seafood is popular (not with me, still not).
the language here is no longer hindi but is a regional dialect called tamil. the state i am at is called tamil nadu! people often speak english amongst each other as in the south there are many more dialects spoken than up north.
i have been badly bitten by mosquitos and try hard not to scratch all the time! apparently the bugs love my blood- just my luck.
turns out that johanna from the uk and i get along great. i am going to pondicherry tomorrow and then meet up with here again in mamallapuram. afterwards we are heading to the westcoast to a small place called hampi which is a favourite among backpackers and i quite excited to go and see it. i heard it is magical.
so i am embarking on another 24 hour journey on monday! travelling this time is going to be exciting as we are on a waiting list for the traintickets and do not actually know if we can get on the train until we get there in the morning but at least this time i will not be on my own.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
me and india: a love-hate-relationship
if there was a bollywood movie made from my travels in india, i sure hope it would have a happy ending, but some challenging moments would come up before, that is for sure as well. most days, i wake up and feel a deep love for this country and its people: indians are so friendly and interested in you. they love to communicate and chat. they can not say no to you....they claim that everything is possible in india. and it is, for good and for worse things to happen. tragedies and miracles happen daily and it is up to you how to handle them.
yes, india teaches me patience. otherwise you can not deal with it, not at all. getting used to the fact that nothing is fast here, things have their own pace and you should not disturb that by trying to mess with than. if you need to go to the postoffice to send a few postcards, this is not a matter of minutes, this will take about 10-15 at least, depending of how many people are waiting in front of you. the clerk has to be willing to interrupt whatever he is doing at the present and spent a few precious moments with you. then he sells you stamps which you have to glue onto the postcards yourself with a little bottle of glue, that sits on the counter. the glue takes forever to dry but you need to do it properly otherwise the stamps come off again. when that is done you pay and you can be sure that whatever bill you hand to the clerk he will NOT have change but sends someone to a ear by shop to have it changed. after receiving your change you need to insist that he stamps the postcards while you are watching, otherwise they take the stamps of your cards and resell them. the monthly pay of a post office clerk is about 2200 rupies per month---so if i were in his shoes, i would maybe try to earn a little money on the side as well.
on the other hand it can be really annoying having to bargain about everything in india- starting with toilet paper, food, clothes, and ending with transportation. you get really tired of that every once in a while. but i have to say i am an expert at it at this point. you develop feeling of what things cost. or should cost. today i had so many people trying to rip me off that after some time, you get really pissed of and it is hard not to think that people just want your money!!!!
being on your own, also not an easy thing in this country. not at all. most days i am alright and i can cope with the indian chaos. however, there were many situations in the past when i was ever so happy to have tzur and manu with me.
when travelling from orcha to khajuraho i was so sick to my stomach and wherever i sat down (in order to not pass out) people gather and stared or try to sell stuff. i was so sick and sick of india at the same time. suffering is one thing, suffering in public like this a completely different thing. i don't know what i would have done without tzur that day who patiently walked me to the bathroom and bought me water and held my hand.
varanasi for example is also not the best place to be on your own. the streets are dingy at night and i was glad not to be on my own. mamallapuram is small and i feel safe here. so no worries!!!
yes, india teaches me patience. otherwise you can not deal with it, not at all. getting used to the fact that nothing is fast here, things have their own pace and you should not disturb that by trying to mess with than. if you need to go to the postoffice to send a few postcards, this is not a matter of minutes, this will take about 10-15 at least, depending of how many people are waiting in front of you. the clerk has to be willing to interrupt whatever he is doing at the present and spent a few precious moments with you. then he sells you stamps which you have to glue onto the postcards yourself with a little bottle of glue, that sits on the counter. the glue takes forever to dry but you need to do it properly otherwise the stamps come off again. when that is done you pay and you can be sure that whatever bill you hand to the clerk he will NOT have change but sends someone to a ear by shop to have it changed. after receiving your change you need to insist that he stamps the postcards while you are watching, otherwise they take the stamps of your cards and resell them. the monthly pay of a post office clerk is about 2200 rupies per month---so if i were in his shoes, i would maybe try to earn a little money on the side as well.
on the other hand it can be really annoying having to bargain about everything in india- starting with toilet paper, food, clothes, and ending with transportation. you get really tired of that every once in a while. but i have to say i am an expert at it at this point. you develop feeling of what things cost. or should cost. today i had so many people trying to rip me off that after some time, you get really pissed of and it is hard not to think that people just want your money!!!!
being on your own, also not an easy thing in this country. not at all. most days i am alright and i can cope with the indian chaos. however, there were many situations in the past when i was ever so happy to have tzur and manu with me.
when travelling from orcha to khajuraho i was so sick to my stomach and wherever i sat down (in order to not pass out) people gather and stared or try to sell stuff. i was so sick and sick of india at the same time. suffering is one thing, suffering in public like this a completely different thing. i don't know what i would have done without tzur that day who patiently walked me to the bathroom and bought me water and held my hand.
varanasi for example is also not the best place to be on your own. the streets are dingy at night and i was glad not to be on my own. mamallapuram is small and i feel safe here. so no worries!!!
mamallapuram
the 40 hours train ride turned out to be a 44 hour train ride followed by 3 hours on a bus but yes, I MADE IT. the train was late for over 4 hours but you don't really mind it as after such a long journey-what are 4 hours, really?
i am now officially in the south of india and sort of start the second part of my trip. being without my beloved travel companions that i spent the last month and a half with is hard and weird, though. it is so much more easy to travel with friends, shared responsibility and you always have someone to cheer you up.
however, the train ride was much more fun that i expected, the time flew by. met some fascinating people. there was a couple (he from japan, she from australia) that were in my compartment and entertained me for quite some time. i actually slept well, both nights, wrote endless pages in my diary and tried to catch up and listened to music for hours. very relaxing. did not mind the time in the train, the bus ride was a bit more exhausting, but rather short.
so now i am here and tomorrow i go out to explore. met a girl from the uk and we are meeting for breakfast and then discover this village together. i am excited to see the temples at the beach.
i am now officially in the south of india and sort of start the second part of my trip. being without my beloved travel companions that i spent the last month and a half with is hard and weird, though. it is so much more easy to travel with friends, shared responsibility and you always have someone to cheer you up.
however, the train ride was much more fun that i expected, the time flew by. met some fascinating people. there was a couple (he from japan, she from australia) that were in my compartment and entertained me for quite some time. i actually slept well, both nights, wrote endless pages in my diary and tried to catch up and listened to music for hours. very relaxing. did not mind the time in the train, the bus ride was a bit more exhausting, but rather short.
so now i am here and tomorrow i go out to explore. met a girl from the uk and we are meeting for breakfast and then discover this village together. i am excited to see the temples at the beach.
Monday, March 12, 2007
last day in varanasi
varanasi. if you spent your days around the ghats you might think this is a small and spiritual place and a close community as you meet the same people every day. just like pushkar. however, when you actually head out into the city you are back in reality and you will not forget for a single minute that Varanasi has about 1,5 million inhabitants. as all major cities: crowded, crazy busy, traffic is unbelievable, the roads ever so bad, the smells (stench, really) breathtaking and the noises deafening.
despite all this i quite like the city. this morning we woke up to an amazing thunderstorm- lightening, thunder and loads of rain. went on for about 30 minutes, wild! manu, tzur and ricky (another woman from israel we met here in varanasi)left today for nepal and it was that the weather was changing accordingly as everything else was about to change.
i have not quite realized yet that i am on my own again, after being with tzur and manu for almost a month and a half. long time in india. traveling is so intense and you spent so much time together that 45 days are rather like knowing someone for 1 year. it is going to be interesting for the next few days to see how i cope with doing everything on my own again. bought a good book as tonight i am enbarking on my journey to the south. varanasi to chennai. train ride for (attenion, attention!) 40 hours (!!!). from chennai i am either going to a small village called manallapuram or pondicherry. i guess i make up my mind while being on the way or really take whatever bus shows up first. after pondicherry i have a few places that i want to see but not yet a fixed idea where to head next. just go with the flow!
a truely magical experience was the boat ride on the ganges at sunrise. very peaceful and the light was amazing! watching the pilgrims bathe, praying, doing yoga, washing their clothes, children swimming in the water...
at night there are big ceremonies going on at the main ghats after sunset: hundreds of people gather to watch it or participate. either on the ghats or from the water. there are several priests praying, bringing candles, burning incense...drums are being played, mantras sung...flowers, food, sweets, etc...are offered to the gods.
last night on the water i saw two skulls floating by.
for dogs this seems to be a particularly terrible place to be. nowhere in india yet have i seen the dogs in a worse condition than here ( i do not know how they manage to stay alive!). i hope that they too enter the nirvana if they die in varanasi! skinny dogs you see all over india but this... the poor creatures suffered enough for serveral life times. there seems to be a skin disease that many of the puppies have, meaning there is basically no fur left! nb: yes, i do care about the humans, a lot and many times a day your heart just skips a beat because of the suffering! however, the dogs are kicked and ill-treated by everyone!!! they are the lowest creatures here and so i feel that someone has to feel pity for them too!
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
travelling since leaving pushkar
travels: pushkar-agra-oracha-khajuraho-varanasi
after leaving pushkar we (that is still manu from portugal, tzur from israel and me) went to agra, just to see the taj mahal. most disenchanting moment so far, was not impressed by the taj AT ALL. by a postcard or go to a restaurant nearby and enjoy the roof top, save a fortune and are better of. anyway, so left agra the same day to jhansi and then further to orcha, ugly city, polluted, crowded. long trip with a train and rickshaw...arrived at night.
orcha: ever so lovely, beautiful temples from the 16th century. picturesque and very peaceful. got sick on the last day though. just barely survived the horrible bustrip to khajuraho. claustrophobic busseats, 30 degrees, no fun at all. khajuraho was fun, small town as well, a bit more hassle than in orcha but still quiet enough. met an australian woman again that we saw in orcha. spent a lot of time with her. interesting life, raised 7 children, 3 adopted, lived in so many countries. very inspiring conversations.
then trip to varanasi. got up at 3:30 in the morning, worried a lot about our driver showing up, eventually he did. we left just 50 minutes late. everything is possible in india. it really is. even though we started to late AND had a flat tire on the way we still made it to the trainstation in time.
varanasi: much less crazy than i expected. busy city but very spiritual. walking along the ghats (the steps that lead down to the ganges), watching the pilgrims, the sadhus, the buffalows bathing--you have entertainment enough. i can just spent your days sitting at the ghats watching life. sadhus are holy men who (very much like monks) own nothing, life off what people give them and dedicate their life to studying the holy texts...and smoke up, a lot. they dress in orange (holy color), have dreads, long beards, and most of them are really friendly and like to talk. they invite you to their little home- which is a fireplace underneath a plastic sheet and then their roll a joint and share their wisdom with you. watching the ganges is amazing with the changing lights during the day. at night people go down to pray (puja) and send of little bowls with flowers and candles in them as an offering to the gods. then the little burning boats float down the river and it is an absolutley stunning sight.
expexted the water to be really disgusting and smelly but for india it is not so bad (considering what kind of things happen at the river banks all day you expect it to be much worse). the cremations of the bodies take place directly at the ghats (not all of them, just a few burn bodies) and you can watch while they stack the wood, then bring the body that is covered with cloth...and then they light it on fire.
we are all a little sick (there seems to be a thing going on, loads of travellers we talked to are and were sick) and i think tomorrow we might rest and plan the next days.
after leaving pushkar we (that is still manu from portugal, tzur from israel and me) went to agra, just to see the taj mahal. most disenchanting moment so far, was not impressed by the taj AT ALL. by a postcard or go to a restaurant nearby and enjoy the roof top, save a fortune and are better of. anyway, so left agra the same day to jhansi and then further to orcha, ugly city, polluted, crowded. long trip with a train and rickshaw...arrived at night.
orcha: ever so lovely, beautiful temples from the 16th century. picturesque and very peaceful. got sick on the last day though. just barely survived the horrible bustrip to khajuraho. claustrophobic busseats, 30 degrees, no fun at all. khajuraho was fun, small town as well, a bit more hassle than in orcha but still quiet enough. met an australian woman again that we saw in orcha. spent a lot of time with her. interesting life, raised 7 children, 3 adopted, lived in so many countries. very inspiring conversations.
then trip to varanasi. got up at 3:30 in the morning, worried a lot about our driver showing up, eventually he did. we left just 50 minutes late. everything is possible in india. it really is. even though we started to late AND had a flat tire on the way we still made it to the trainstation in time.
varanasi: much less crazy than i expected. busy city but very spiritual. walking along the ghats (the steps that lead down to the ganges), watching the pilgrims, the sadhus, the buffalows bathing--you have entertainment enough. i can just spent your days sitting at the ghats watching life. sadhus are holy men who (very much like monks) own nothing, life off what people give them and dedicate their life to studying the holy texts...and smoke up, a lot. they dress in orange (holy color), have dreads, long beards, and most of them are really friendly and like to talk. they invite you to their little home- which is a fireplace underneath a plastic sheet and then their roll a joint and share their wisdom with you. watching the ganges is amazing with the changing lights during the day. at night people go down to pray (puja) and send of little bowls with flowers and candles in them as an offering to the gods. then the little burning boats float down the river and it is an absolutley stunning sight.
expexted the water to be really disgusting and smelly but for india it is not so bad (considering what kind of things happen at the river banks all day you expect it to be much worse). the cremations of the bodies take place directly at the ghats (not all of them, just a few burn bodies) and you can watch while they stack the wood, then bring the body that is covered with cloth...and then they light it on fire.
we are all a little sick (there seems to be a thing going on, loads of travellers we talked to are and were sick) and i think tomorrow we might rest and plan the next days.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
jodhpur
the second biggest city of rajasthan. a wealthy city, important place for traders from all over india. like jaisalmer, enormous fort that overlooks the city. amazing view from up there. jodhpur is called the blue city as most houses in the old city are painted blue.
it is a treat for the eye. unfortunately it does not come out on the photos so well. the blue color originally marked the house of a brahmin, but not any longer. anyone can paint his house blue now and the blues works as an insect repellent!!!
jodhpur is a dazzling and busy city. tourism is not as important for the city and you barely see travelers, except around the fort. inside the bazars you stand out as a foreigner and sometimes i got a little tired being stared at. it is not necessarily negative attention but sometimes it is just too much! you feel striped to the bone with everyone eying you like you just came from mars (i might as well).
the were so many stores that sold spices, clothes, fabrics, shoes...i took many great pictures and loved just strolling through the narrow streets. you have to be alert in india all the time as you need to manage many things at the same time: not stepping in cowshit, not bumping into sleeping dogs, not stepping in the gutter and drains but most importantly the traffic. as a human being you are nothing, either jump out of the way or hide behind a cow. these are your options when staying alive in the city. the pollution in jodhpur was pretty bad and my lungs and skin reacts immediately.
it was nice for a few days...but i am glad to be...and you will not believe it. i am back in pushkar. another very spontaneous decision.
it is sooooo great to be back. 2 minutes after leaving the bus we met the first people we knew and walking along the familiar streets, men came out from the shops to welcome us back and shake our hands. it is like coming home. amazing!!!
i love it. moved to a different guesthouse, share a room with manu again, who makes me laugh even at 8 in the morning. i love being with her, she just glows and everyone feeds of her energy. well, anyway, we have a beautiful room: huge with glass stained windows and a big mirror. it is so large that i can dance with all my stuff unpacked.
very tired from traveling. have been on a bus for about 6 hours today and it was hot. it is spring now in rajasthan,that means temperatures above 25 degrees. in the summer they have 45 degrees here.
i think i caught a cold last night, hanging out on the roof top. need a good night of rest. tomorrow will be a beautiful day, saying hello to all my favorite places here.
love to you all.
it is a treat for the eye. unfortunately it does not come out on the photos so well. the blue color originally marked the house of a brahmin, but not any longer. anyone can paint his house blue now and the blues works as an insect repellent!!!
jodhpur is a dazzling and busy city. tourism is not as important for the city and you barely see travelers, except around the fort. inside the bazars you stand out as a foreigner and sometimes i got a little tired being stared at. it is not necessarily negative attention but sometimes it is just too much! you feel striped to the bone with everyone eying you like you just came from mars (i might as well).
the were so many stores that sold spices, clothes, fabrics, shoes...i took many great pictures and loved just strolling through the narrow streets. you have to be alert in india all the time as you need to manage many things at the same time: not stepping in cowshit, not bumping into sleeping dogs, not stepping in the gutter and drains but most importantly the traffic. as a human being you are nothing, either jump out of the way or hide behind a cow. these are your options when staying alive in the city. the pollution in jodhpur was pretty bad and my lungs and skin reacts immediately.
it was nice for a few days...but i am glad to be...and you will not believe it. i am back in pushkar. another very spontaneous decision.
it is sooooo great to be back. 2 minutes after leaving the bus we met the first people we knew and walking along the familiar streets, men came out from the shops to welcome us back and shake our hands. it is like coming home. amazing!!!
i love it. moved to a different guesthouse, share a room with manu again, who makes me laugh even at 8 in the morning. i love being with her, she just glows and everyone feeds of her energy. well, anyway, we have a beautiful room: huge with glass stained windows and a big mirror. it is so large that i can dance with all my stuff unpacked.
very tired from traveling. have been on a bus for about 6 hours today and it was hot. it is spring now in rajasthan,that means temperatures above 25 degrees. in the summer they have 45 degrees here.
i think i caught a cold last night, hanging out on the roof top. need a good night of rest. tomorrow will be a beautiful day, saying hello to all my favorite places here.
love to you all.
jaisalmer
in the middle of the desert. the fort there is amazing, so big. walking inside the old city walls, you feel like going back in time. the streets are so narrow that two people can barely pass each other. visited some ancient jaint temples.
traveled with a lovely group: 7 people, all different nationalities.
highlight: did a jeep tour to the desert to see the sunset. some sand dunes that looked like the sahara. we saw a camal baby just 5 minutes after it was born, it was almost black and freezing!
very nice town but nothing compares to pushkar！ the internet was so slow that it took 30 minutes to read three mails...that is why i did not write for so many days.
had a nice guesthouse with a rooftop where we hung out a lot and i did my yoga in the morning. rose early one day to see the sunrise...very special. even india is a little more quiet in the early mornings.
traveled with a lovely group: 7 people, all different nationalities.
highlight: did a jeep tour to the desert to see the sunset. some sand dunes that looked like the sahara. we saw a camal baby just 5 minutes after it was born, it was almost black and freezing!
very nice town but nothing compares to pushkar！ the internet was so slow that it took 30 minutes to read three mails...that is why i did not write for so many days.
had a nice guesthouse with a rooftop where we hung out a lot and i did my yoga in the morning. rose early one day to see the sunrise...very special. even india is a little more quiet in the early mornings.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
almost gone
o pushkar, i shall miss you. saw my last sunset today near the lake. people gather there every night to witness the sun going down. i love it. every night it is different.
actually ran into people that i traveled with before and the tried to convince us to stay another day but i feel we have to go at some point. otherwise this is turning out to be a hotel California--you can check out any time you like but you can never leave!!!!
my english will be butchered after this trip.
you just adjust after a while. you don't use question tags any longer.
you just add "no" to a sentence to turn it into a question. you like it, no?
favourite indisch-english expressions:
slowly, slowly (they use it all the time)
next time (if you do not stop at one store and wave, they yell at you: next time!!!!)
learned the hindi word for let's go/ vamos: cello
we all use it all the time to express something is finished of somebody left.
cello? cello!
top 5 questions that everyone asks you:
which country?
name?
profession?
married?
how you like india?
need to run, dinner is waiting. good bye dinner!
cello?
cello pushkar!!!
actually ran into people that i traveled with before and the tried to convince us to stay another day but i feel we have to go at some point. otherwise this is turning out to be a hotel California--you can check out any time you like but you can never leave!!!!
my english will be butchered after this trip.
you just adjust after a while. you don't use question tags any longer.
you just add "no" to a sentence to turn it into a question. you like it, no?
favourite indisch-english expressions:
slowly, slowly (they use it all the time)
next time (if you do not stop at one store and wave, they yell at you: next time!!!!)
learned the hindi word for let's go/ vamos: cello
we all use it all the time to express something is finished of somebody left.
cello? cello!
top 5 questions that everyone asks you:
which country?
name?
profession?
married?
how you like india?
need to run, dinner is waiting. good bye dinner!
cello?
cello pushkar!!!
Saturday, February 10, 2007
change of plans
...go with the flow and don't stop...
guess i am not going to agra yet. me and my friends here got invited to a wedding tonight and so instead of travelling on a sleeper bus we will be dancing until the early morning. i am so excited about this. agra was not calling me at this point...the cities with more than 1,000 000 inhabitants just wear you out. so what we will do instead is, that all of us (there is a guy from israel, a woman from brazil, one from portugal and one from the netherlands and me) will go to jaisalmer instead. southern part of rajasthan, totally out of the way. 10 hour busride there. jaisalmer is in the desert and famous for its fort. i felt like i wanted to see more of rajasthan before i travel east and last night we decided that we would go. all of us, out of the blue.
it is great. i love this life style.
thank you for all the love i received on my birthday. i feel so blessed! had the best day: people i care for, people singing for me, lovely gifts...even though i am so far from home it felt right to be here. i am so alive these days.
it was raining on my birthday which i decided to take for a wonderful thing. IT NEVER RAINS HERE DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. it is ike everyone said: it is special, just like your birthday. in Portugal (and i am learning new things every day here) it is actually good luck if it rains on your wedding day. what do you know!!!!!
guess i am not going to agra yet. me and my friends here got invited to a wedding tonight and so instead of travelling on a sleeper bus we will be dancing until the early morning. i am so excited about this. agra was not calling me at this point...the cities with more than 1,000 000 inhabitants just wear you out. so what we will do instead is, that all of us (there is a guy from israel, a woman from brazil, one from portugal and one from the netherlands and me) will go to jaisalmer instead. southern part of rajasthan, totally out of the way. 10 hour busride there. jaisalmer is in the desert and famous for its fort. i felt like i wanted to see more of rajasthan before i travel east and last night we decided that we would go. all of us, out of the blue.
it is great. i love this life style.
thank you for all the love i received on my birthday. i feel so blessed! had the best day: people i care for, people singing for me, lovely gifts...even though i am so far from home it felt right to be here. i am so alive these days.
it was raining on my birthday which i decided to take for a wonderful thing. IT NEVER RAINS HERE DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. it is ike everyone said: it is special, just like your birthday. in Portugal (and i am learning new things every day here) it is actually good luck if it rains on your wedding day. what do you know!!!!!
Friday, February 9, 2007
clouds
i guess life can not always be like sunshine, and ice-cream.
today is the first cloudy day and i miss the sun terribly. did not sleep well, missed yoga. trying hard to push any negative thoughts from me. think i might be successful! this is the second to last day here. will miss the place terribly. i already know that. but there is so much more out there to see.
leaving pushkar tomorrow night on a sleeper bus to agra. will take us 10 hours to get there. we intend to spent the day to the the taj and then leave the town as soon as possible. agra has a terrible reputation and i think after 2 weeks in pushkar the pollution will be probably really though on me. from agra to orcha, another small town, supposably really picturesque. should get there sunday night.
a few friends are coming over tonight, we will have dinner at the milkman and afterwards go to a jam session. instead of a cake there will be HELLO TO THE QUEEN! thanks for all your lovely mails, guy!!!!!
hugs and kisses to you all.
today is the first cloudy day and i miss the sun terribly. did not sleep well, missed yoga. trying hard to push any negative thoughts from me. think i might be successful! this is the second to last day here. will miss the place terribly. i already know that. but there is so much more out there to see.
leaving pushkar tomorrow night on a sleeper bus to agra. will take us 10 hours to get there. we intend to spent the day to the the taj and then leave the town as soon as possible. agra has a terrible reputation and i think after 2 weeks in pushkar the pollution will be probably really though on me. from agra to orcha, another small town, supposably really picturesque. should get there sunday night.
a few friends are coming over tonight, we will have dinner at the milkman and afterwards go to a jam session. instead of a cake there will be HELLO TO THE QUEEN! thanks for all your lovely mails, guy!!!!!
hugs and kisses to you all.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
looking back
my first month india and i am looking back in wonder and amazement!
have not been to a supermarket for over a month
have not worn socks for 2 weeks now
have not felt so good for years
have ridden a camel and an elephant
have been to the desert
saw the sunset at pushkar lake
ate tibetan and israeli food
stayed in an ashram
saw parrots (wild ones) and cobras
ate the food in the streets and did not get sick
fed monkeys (hands touching!)
have been overjoyed more than once
have driven a vehicle in india, even though you drive on the left side of the road
bought a cd with indian music to share when i get home
learned how to cook indian food, you'll also profit from that
most dangerous situation so far:
a red monkey grabbed my leg when i was hiking in McLeod Ganj...i was freaked out and pretty close to hysteria....but nothing really happened
nb: there are red and black monkeys, the black ones are nice and those ones i like, the other ones are really fresh and steal food and even the indians do not like them
have not been to a supermarket for over a month
have not worn socks for 2 weeks now
have not felt so good for years
have ridden a camel and an elephant
have been to the desert
saw the sunset at pushkar lake
ate tibetan and israeli food
stayed in an ashram
saw parrots (wild ones) and cobras
ate the food in the streets and did not get sick
fed monkeys (hands touching!)
have been overjoyed more than once
have driven a vehicle in india, even though you drive on the left side of the road
bought a cd with indian music to share when i get home
learned how to cook indian food, you'll also profit from that
most dangerous situation so far:
a red monkey grabbed my leg when i was hiking in McLeod Ganj...i was freaked out and pretty close to hysteria....but nothing really happened
nb: there are red and black monkeys, the black ones are nice and those ones i like, the other ones are really fresh and steal food and even the indians do not like them
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
almost a local
spend the day up on the roof in the hotel. working on my tan right now. read a bit, wrote some postcards, slept some. yoga in the morning of course.
going to my brasilian friend tonight, they are having a bonfire at their hotel.
tomorrow i am treating myself to a haircut and a manicure.
for the first time my stomach was troubled last night. we went to a place that served truly terrible food, but i was so hungry that i ate it anyway. o well. it passed. feel a lot better. i have to say that so far my body was been dealing great with all the bacteria and germs. so i can not complain. think about taking a little hike to one of the temples to see the sunset from up there.
take care, all!
going to my brasilian friend tonight, they are having a bonfire at their hotel.
tomorrow i am treating myself to a haircut and a manicure.
for the first time my stomach was troubled last night. we went to a place that served truly terrible food, but i was so hungry that i ate it anyway. o well. it passed. feel a lot better. i have to say that so far my body was been dealing great with all the bacteria and germs. so i can not complain. think about taking a little hike to one of the temples to see the sunset from up there.
take care, all!
Monday, February 5, 2007
discovering the area
still in pushkar. fell in love with this place, like many others. EVERY day there is a wedding, people dancing in the streets, loud music....colorful people.
we indian travellers like to talk about the energy of a place =))
whatever it is - it is like therapy for me.
i am the happiest i have been in a long time. for no special reason. maybe it is the daily yoga, the amazing food (discover something new every day....not just indian but food from all over the world...israel for example...) or the sun. probably a combination of it all.
the day before yesterday we rented scooters and went to a temple 15 km out of town. lovely place, very isolated and peaceful. no one but us there. we walked around in the desert,
had a little picknick. riding a scooter here is fabulous!!!! i was a little nervous about driving on the wrong side of the road...but you get used to it. i guess there is a little james dean in me: love the speed, love the driving.
yesterday we went out again with the scooters and ended up feeding monkeys a little outside of town....the mokeys are so human, especially when they look at you. they grab your hand and the pick the nuts from your palm, bit by bit. have some pictures to share again. will be my task for tomorrow.
heading out for dinner now, two of the regulars of the hotel are leaving tomorrow and we are having a goodbye dinner.
there is a dessert here that is to die for, called HELLO TO THE QUEEN...it is fried banana, vanilla ice-cream, topped with cookie crumbles, nuts and hot chocolate sauce. it is a meal in its own, but it is o-so-amazing!!!!
we indian travellers like to talk about the energy of a place =))
whatever it is - it is like therapy for me.
i am the happiest i have been in a long time. for no special reason. maybe it is the daily yoga, the amazing food (discover something new every day....not just indian but food from all over the world...israel for example...) or the sun. probably a combination of it all.
the day before yesterday we rented scooters and went to a temple 15 km out of town. lovely place, very isolated and peaceful. no one but us there. we walked around in the desert,
had a little picknick. riding a scooter here is fabulous!!!! i was a little nervous about driving on the wrong side of the road...but you get used to it. i guess there is a little james dean in me: love the speed, love the driving.
yesterday we went out again with the scooters and ended up feeding monkeys a little outside of town....the mokeys are so human, especially when they look at you. they grab your hand and the pick the nuts from your palm, bit by bit. have some pictures to share again. will be my task for tomorrow.
heading out for dinner now, two of the regulars of the hotel are leaving tomorrow and we are having a goodbye dinner.
there is a dessert here that is to die for, called HELLO TO THE QUEEN...it is fried banana, vanilla ice-cream, topped with cookie crumbles, nuts and hot chocolate sauce. it is a meal in its own, but it is o-so-amazing!!!!
Thursday, February 1, 2007
life in pushkar
...is really chilled and relaxed. moved to a different hotel yesterday, the milkman. love the owner, particually the daugther, who is a painter (she will have an opening at a gallery next week, i think, i'll go). lots of travellers just stay in pushkar for weeks (most of the people in my hotel do). so we hang out on the roof top, read, play cards. drink chai, eat delicious food.
pushkar is a little village, located at a holy lake, we people travel to in order to bath in the water and do puja (prayer, religious rituals...involving some offerings of insence, flowers, food...). it seems to be a favourite among travellers, loads of hippies here. drugs are big here, everyone seems to smoke up.
officially this is a holy place where you are not even supposed to smoke in the streets, but cigarettes (and hash) are sold everywhere. also no eggs, no meat and no alcohol in this town and these rules are follwed strictly, as far as i can tell. additionally the public display of affection is frowned upon.
my life here: in the mornings i am going to a yaoga class. a 60 year old guru teaches us, he is wonderful. then i usually go to breakfast to a place called HONEY&SPICE..best tofu toasts and fruit salad in town. meet the same people there every day. love my little routines.
the rest of the day is filled with reading, shopping, emailing, playing cards and other fun things.
the first days here i spent with a british guy-phil. he was so much fun and for 3 days we spent almost every minute together. we talked a lot about music and traveling, food, life, religion...he convinced me to go on a camal safari and he came along to the yoga session (and loved it)...when he left town yesterday we both felt odd. i guess friendships develop fast if you spent three, very intense days together. i really miss his company.
the camal safari: let me tell you, a camal is so uncomfortable to sit on- you hurt for 3 days afterwards. we were so glad that we decided for the one day tour instead of 2 days (at first phil wanted to sleep in the dessert)....the tour was still nice, except maybe the way back. we had lunch cooked on a little fire in the middle of nowhere...the best food so far!!!
yesterday i got baptized an indian name: sapnaa (meaning dream in hindi). phil and i went down to sit at the ghats (steps that lead to the lake) and a man started talking to us. turns out that he is a prefessor in ajmer (city close by) and speaks good english. he gave both of us indian names and then he took us to see a wedding. apparently yesterday was a special day so 5 couples decided to get married...the wedding parties march through the streets, flower pedals are thrown, a big bands plays and people dance madly in the streets...much fun.
later on we went to feed the monkeys: they are spoiled little animals, but cute.
om shanti from pushkar to you!
pushkar is a little village, located at a holy lake, we people travel to in order to bath in the water and do puja (prayer, religious rituals...involving some offerings of insence, flowers, food...). it seems to be a favourite among travellers, loads of hippies here. drugs are big here, everyone seems to smoke up.
officially this is a holy place where you are not even supposed to smoke in the streets, but cigarettes (and hash) are sold everywhere. also no eggs, no meat and no alcohol in this town and these rules are follwed strictly, as far as i can tell. additionally the public display of affection is frowned upon.
my life here: in the mornings i am going to a yaoga class. a 60 year old guru teaches us, he is wonderful. then i usually go to breakfast to a place called HONEY&SPICE..best tofu toasts and fruit salad in town. meet the same people there every day. love my little routines.
the rest of the day is filled with reading, shopping, emailing, playing cards and other fun things.
the first days here i spent with a british guy-phil. he was so much fun and for 3 days we spent almost every minute together. we talked a lot about music and traveling, food, life, religion...he convinced me to go on a camal safari and he came along to the yoga session (and loved it)...when he left town yesterday we both felt odd. i guess friendships develop fast if you spent three, very intense days together. i really miss his company.
the camal safari: let me tell you, a camal is so uncomfortable to sit on- you hurt for 3 days afterwards. we were so glad that we decided for the one day tour instead of 2 days (at first phil wanted to sleep in the dessert)....the tour was still nice, except maybe the way back. we had lunch cooked on a little fire in the middle of nowhere...the best food so far!!!
yesterday i got baptized an indian name: sapnaa (meaning dream in hindi). phil and i went down to sit at the ghats (steps that lead to the lake) and a man started talking to us. turns out that he is a prefessor in ajmer (city close by) and speaks good english. he gave both of us indian names and then he took us to see a wedding. apparently yesterday was a special day so 5 couples decided to get married...the wedding parties march through the streets, flower pedals are thrown, a big bands plays and people dance madly in the streets...much fun.
later on we went to feed the monkeys: they are spoiled little animals, but cute.
om shanti from pushkar to you!
Monday, January 29, 2007
pushkar
rajastahn is so colorful and the women are more beautiful here than anywhere else i have been so far.
wait until you see some pictures. will stay in this tranquil little village that is beautifully located next to a lake for a few days to unwind and do laundry, reading and writing...chilling!!!
i love it. tomorrow i'll go on a camal safari...phil, a british guy, convinced me to do it. should be fun. i am off for dinner now (o i so love the food, i don't think i 'll ever grow tired of it).
btw: pushkar is a holy place- no meat and no alcohol are sold here. strictly vegetarian village!
Friday, January 26, 2007
jaipur
eine weitere millionenstadt (nach amritsar und delhi), die luftverschmutzung ist schlimm, bin das erste mal ein bisschen krank--halsschmerzen. bin mir sicher, dass das durch die schlechte luft verursacht ist.
hatte dennoch einen guten tag hier: heute vormittag besuch der ngo i india- wirklich netter und herzlicher empfang. ein indisches paar hat diese organisation gegruendet um strassenkindern eine zukunft zu bilden. es gibt diverse projekte: waisenhaeuser, schule auf raedern, mobile aertze, ein duschmobil, dann gibt es verschiedene ausbildungsmoeglichkeiten und schule fuer die waisen....hab mir alles angesehen, wurde zum chai eingeladen, wie ueberall in indien. die maedchen machen schmuck. herrliche sachen, haette mein komplettes budget dort ausgeben koennen.
nachmittags war ich in den basaren der innenstadt (pink city, denn alles was innerhalb der stadtmauern ist, ist pink angestrichen) unterwegs und habe mir armreifen gekauft: alle indische frauen hier tragen wunderbar bunte saries und die arme voll armreifen....die indischen (hindu) frauen sind unglaubllich schoen (nicht die muslimischen frauen, die sind in schwarze roben gehuellt, manchmal sogar mit verhuellten gesicht...also, die frauen sind vielleicht auch schoen, aber nicht so paradiesvogelfarben-bunt!!!, viel verdeckter).
abends war ich das erste mal in indien im kino. ein erlebnis!!!! der saal (es gibt nur einen, laeuft immer nur ein film) war riesig-geschaetzt passen da (und alle wissen ich kann nicht schaetzen...) 1000 menschen rein. die show fuer 3 stunden, eine pause. die leute haben mitgefiebert und gelacht, zwischendurch geklatscht....ausserdem war die laermkullisse betraechtlich: es waren dutzendweise kleinkinder mit, die dann zwischendurch alle rumgebruellt haben...sehr spannend!!!
alles auf hindi, ohne untertitel, aber die story war trotzdem zu verfolgen. much fun.
gestern: war auf einem fort etwas weiter weg zum sonnenuntergang, netter blick auf die stadt.
habe heute super nettes mexikanisches paaerchen kennengelernt, gestern war ich mit einem franzosen unterwegs..es ergibt sich immer was.
uebermorgen gehts weiter nach pushkar!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
amritsar
the sikh city, the golden temple is really impressive. live in the dormatories for pilgrims on the temple area (for free....donations are welcome)...saw the temple early in the morning and at night...beautiful. the architecture resembles a lotus flower..combines hindi and moslem features....
a sikh priest told me many things....(people love talking to me!!!)
the temple has four open doors (christianity, hindu, moslems and sikhs....) to bring people from different faith together...the temple is surrounded by water and only one small bridge connects it to the land...the water is holy. people bath in it, drink it- even take it home in containers.
the temple is a clean, friendly and peaceful place....open to everyone. there is a kitchen that feeds the pilgrims (about 30,000 a day)...for free!!
went to a park, where in 1919 the british started shooting at a peaceful gathering on indians....the park is a memorial....and again: some students walked up to me and started to guide me through the park and talking to me.
later on i went to the boarder between pakistan and india to see the closing of the boarder....it is a big military happening and ...lots of showing of on both sides...
o well....hung out with some other travellers from switzerland, germany and the netherlands...had a good day here
tomorrow i am moving on to jaipur...a 18 hour train ride....so bear with me!!!
a sikh priest told me many things....(people love talking to me!!!)
the temple has four open doors (christianity, hindu, moslems and sikhs....) to bring people from different faith together...the temple is surrounded by water and only one small bridge connects it to the land...the water is holy. people bath in it, drink it- even take it home in containers.
the temple is a clean, friendly and peaceful place....open to everyone. there is a kitchen that feeds the pilgrims (about 30,000 a day)...for free!!
went to a park, where in 1919 the british started shooting at a peaceful gathering on indians....the park is a memorial....and again: some students walked up to me and started to guide me through the park and talking to me.
later on i went to the boarder between pakistan and india to see the closing of the boarder....it is a big military happening and ...lots of showing of on both sides...
o well....hung out with some other travellers from switzerland, germany and the netherlands...had a good day here
tomorrow i am moving on to jaipur...a 18 hour train ride....so bear with me!!!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
lucy in the sky with diamonds
last night was truely magical. there is literally no light pollution here and the sky at night is just amazing. despite of the cold i stayed outside for over ten minutes to enjoy. millions and millions of stars.... even say a wishing star!!!!!
never seen anything like it.
you feel much closer to the sun and the sky up here. yesterday the sun was so intense that i got sunburned!
never seen anything like it.
you feel much closer to the sun and the sky up here. yesterday the sun was so intense that i got sunburned!
Monday, January 15, 2007
bhagsu
writing this in the middle of the himalayas...i am currently living up at 2000 meters. it is below freezing at night but much warmer as soon as the sun rises. finally feel calm and relaxed. spent a lot of time with mira and her family (for those of you who are wondering: mira is a friend of another friend, who came to pick me up at the airport and who owns a guesthouse near here). helping her daugthters out with their schoolwork and study with them for the upcoming exams...the teaching pays for my meals at mira's guesthouse. good deal! mira has three daughters, they are a lot of fun and especially with anna (14) i get along great. anna and i take the dog ( a cute labrador...his name is moti (hindi word for pearl)) for long walks and enjoy the view and the peace even higher up. few tourists are here now. they all come right before the teachings of the dalai lama (end of february or beginning of march--the beginning of the tibetan year)....those teachings are puplic and last for about ten days. i will be gone by the time they start but i already decided to come back here again and see more of himachal pradesh--the state where i am at right now. michael would love it, he is such a mountain person....
i am on my way to the waterfall, it is a nice walk and high up there is a great cafe that offers the best chai in bhagsu.
i think about staying here for a week. the girls are trying to convince me to stay until the 9th of february which is my and nisha's birthday (nisha is the oldest, turing 17)....and i would actually love to party with them...but the cold at night is hard without any heating and the houses are not isolated at all!! so i think after one week i am ready to move south again. even though i know i'll miss everyone and the tranquility here. i am not so much a tourists here, as the girls are known by everyone in the village, as a friend....wherever i go (and i usually take the dog), people recognize moti and the locals are so friendly and nice, chatting with me in broken english or we just smile!!!!
some things i learned to far: lots of hindi words for food, some important phrases...but i am a slow learner.
take care, you all.
i am on my way to the waterfall, it is a nice walk and high up there is a great cafe that offers the best chai in bhagsu.
i think about staying here for a week. the girls are trying to convince me to stay until the 9th of february which is my and nisha's birthday (nisha is the oldest, turing 17)....and i would actually love to party with them...but the cold at night is hard without any heating and the houses are not isolated at all!! so i think after one week i am ready to move south again. even though i know i'll miss everyone and the tranquility here. i am not so much a tourists here, as the girls are known by everyone in the village, as a friend....wherever i go (and i usually take the dog), people recognize moti and the locals are so friendly and nice, chatting with me in broken english or we just smile!!!!
some things i learned to far: lots of hindi words for food, some important phrases...but i am a slow learner.
take care, you all.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
arrived safely
arrived safely in delhi, first days in delhi were stressful and fascinating. delhi is loud, hectic, dirty, crazy...mira is such a doll. picked me up at the airport, helps me a lot, teaches me hindi...most of all we laugh a lot. we share a passion for food and quietness --but obviously it is almost never quiet here. constant noise...the traffic is amazing!!! will be leaving delhi for now to head north to the himalayian mountains...will be nice to get some fresh air and relax.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
