Off on Another Adventure in the Treehouse Train!

The title says it all! Brasil is coming over today and tomorrow night, we are boarding the Train!

Going to the Kutcch Rann Festival!!!! =D Lots of fun, cultural fun! I think I speak for everybody when I say that all us exchange students are so excited to see each other AGAIN. =D This is going to be great! 3 days in the Desert, in CANVAS tents! With FRIENDS. =) Life can't get any better! We are also meeting the CHIEF MINISTER of Gujarat! A very important man. I feel so privileged! Being an exchange student is a big deal, you are a VIP... it's weird to say that. Haha.

Anyway, I'm in the middle of packing my bag for the trip. So I must concentrate, despite my excitement, and get that done!

Hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I miss you all very much! Tata.

My North Trip

The day before the trip, Felipe(from Brasil) came over, driving from Vapi to spend the night at my house here in Valsad. My excitement was overwhelming, seeing another exchange student for the first time in 3 months was nice. We talked for a bit and played cards that night.

Next morning we had to get up at 7:30am to get ready to drive to Surat (North of Valsad). Got our luggage ready to get into the car with a driver who was hired by my host parents to drive us there. As we stepped out of my house to put shoes on, we noticed that Felipe’s shoes were missing, found out that they were stolen by someone. He walked down to the car barefoot, my host parents felt awful and so did I, as they were very expensive shoes, even in the USA they would be. The car ride was nice, only an hour and a half. The driver put on some Bollywood music on and we grooved in the car the whole car ride.

I’ve never been to Surat before, and it was substantially bigger than Valsad, a huge city. It was strange to be in a big city. Took us about a half an hour to find where we were supposed to be dropped off. Found the place and said thank you to the driver. Then ANOTHER exchange student popped out, we arrived at Alanna’s house( a girl from Canada). Gave each other hugs and just starting to chat. Made plans to explore the city for a bit. Took an auto rickshaw to the more city like areas in Surat and went to Coffee Day, where Brasil and I had our first cup of coffee since we had been in India. Our faces were priceless. Alanna laughed at us. I bought some coffee to bring back with me to Valsad.

Met up with another exchange student, Caroline(from Florida) we said a quick hello then had to go back to Alanna’s house. Loaded our luggage and got ready to meet up with the two Frenchies at the train station. Getting there was exciting, our trip was beginning. The French popped up and I was more than happy to see both of them. So, all of us boarded the train, chatting up a storm, laughing, sharing stories, eating food, exchanging language knowledge etc. As our train traveled to the northern part of Gujarat we picked up more exchange students and the volume of screaming and laughing went up. Hugs everywhere, we all squeezed into on compartment in the train, didn’t really understand how we managed that, but we did. We were on that train for a while, through the night, hence we were in a sleeper train(hard to describe how they really look without a picture, cool though when they are set up, kind of like a tree house thing, it was fun), where there were 8 bunks that you could sleep in when you were tired, though most of us didn’t sleep until very late, some didn’t sleep at all, which initiated a chain reaction all over the train by the other passengers of grumpiness and glared. I set up my bed and fell asleep. We were woken up early to get off; we had reached Rajasthan in the city of Jodhpur.

Met up with a bus where we had a 6 hour drive to our destination, the Sand Dunes of Jaisalmer Desert. Everything was golden, don’t really know how to describe it, such a rich vivid color everywhere. The desert offered such beauty. Arrived at the sand dunes, unloaded our luggage into the canvas tents we were staying in that night, which were more luxurious than I expected. Then headed straight to the sand dunes where we loaded two exchange students on each camel. I was paired with the German, Stine, and her face when the camel got up was hilarious. Road camels into the desert as little boys carrying canvas bags of soft drinks harassed us, begging us to buy something from them. I made friends with one of them who was only 10 years old, later on found out that our friendship entailed some unknown mutual understanding that I was going to buy a drink. The little boy looked at me and said I had promised him I would buy a drink. But I didn’t, I had to send him on his way, with a heavy heart of guilt.

Stepping off the camels and sat in the fine sand as desert musicians came to us and played some beautiful music. We danced in the desert as the adults who accompanied us looked at us with pride, we were becoming more Indian. Alanna(girl from Canada), Caroline (from Florida) and I then had a crazy fun idea, rolling down the steep sand dunes, so we did. Then later on finding sand in the most peculiar places a couple days later, even though we took showers…I found sand still in my ears…hahha.

Watching the sunset in the sand dunes was indescribable and you could see the moon brightly rising opposite of the sun. Rode the camels back to the tents, where we were greeted at the campsite entrance with music. It was the full moon that night. Desert music filled the atmosphere. Danced the night away around a bonfire as the moon shone making its own shadows in the tranquil blackness of the night; which later on a did some karate in the desert, the full moon class was happening in America the next day for the, so I did karate in the spirit of being there with my dojo. I roomed with the French, Fanny and Adele; which later on made a mutual understanding that we were roomies for the whole trip, which I didn’t mind one bit. We laid down in the desert for a while, looking at the billions of starts that revealed themselves to us, having some casual chatting.

Next day we loaded luggage, had the best chai ever and drove one hour to Jaisalmer city, also known as the Golden city. Good name for it too, because it was truly golden. Buildings there were built with sandstone bricks. Checked into the hotel and visited the famous fort there, also visiting some amazing Jain temples whose architecture was unmatched. Went shopping then arrived back at the hotel, went for a swim in the pool there, then had dinner, where more dancing took place on terrace of the hotel, where the restaurant was situated. Stayed up till 1:30am then hit the sack to get ready for the long day ahead of us.

Drove to Jodhpur(also known as the blue city), took 7 hours. That’s when reality hit all of us; we were literally living in that bus most of the trip. But at least it was in good company. Unloaded again at our hotel and visited Mehrangarh Fort & Ummaid Bhavan palace. Amazing places, lots of fun and pictures. The night time at the hotel was quiet; we had dinner then danced some Garba, practice for the district conference.

Again, you can guess it; we loaded up and drove to our next stop, Jaipur, the biggest city in Rajasthan. Checked in the Hotel and had the night to ourselves, went to the market place, where everybody wanted to go shopping, we had never been harassed by vendors that intensely before, some people were shaken up from the experience, including me. That night was nice and relaxing, with some great food and just some bonding time with other exchangers.

The next morning there was no need to pack up; we were staying in Jaipur for two nights, which was a huge relief to not be on such a hectic schedule. Sightseeing commenced as we drove to Amer, where we visited the Amer Fort & Palace. Amazing.

Came back to Jaipur and just relaxed, I packed my suitcase that night, with the intentions of getting more sleep. The next day then fell into the usual routine, load up and move move move. 5 hour drive to Agra, arriving at the hotel, then 30 minutes later we were on our way to the Taj Mahal. I was holding my breath the whole time. Getting in line, getting through security, then finally arriving at the gate that lead to the Taj Mahal. All of us were speechless and oddly quiet as we walked towards the gate that would reveal the world famous Taj Mahal.

There it was. The most beautiful thing. Perfect in every way. All of us stopped in our tracks and just hung our mouths in awe. I had seen the Taj Mahal in pictures, but none of them came close to what was in front of us. No picture really did capture the Taj Mahal for what it really was. Walking closer to it, it didn’t cease to amaze and capture me in its beauty. Pure white, made of marble and other precious gems and stones from around the world. It was the pinnacle of true love. You could feel the love put into it as it was being built radiating off into the air. There were so many people there, waiting in line to get a closer. You take a closer look, and still, it’s perfect. That’s all I have to say. Too great for words to describe. You got to come see it yourself, you really do.

Next day rushed out of the hotel in Agra to proceed to Delhi. The ride was long, but worth it when we arrived into the city. Went to see the India Gate, then to the Akshar Dham temple. The temples here in India are just superb, they all honestly are. Then to Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, and Humayun’s Tomb. I think the most memorable for me though was the Lotus temple, beautiful. Even though it was modern, that did not contribute to the reason why it was memorable. It was the silence that was inside that temple that made it memorable. The silence was beautiful to the point where I cried, even my friends did too. Just being in silence like that was an experience itself. Later on went on the metro in Delhi, which was fun, and went to a huge bazaar that was underground, with hundreds of stores.

Next day we boarded the train to Jallandhar City, in Punjab where we were greeted with a very warm welcome. We were now in District 3060, where they had no exchange students; we were treated like VIPs in the district. That night we had a Rotary meeting to welcome us to Punjab, having a dinner and dance party on the terreace with some really nice Punjabi music. Punjabi music is awesome. All of us exchange students got most of the Rotarians to come dance with us, Punjabis really know how to have a good time. The time we spent in Punjab, we had our picture in the newspaper everyday.

Headed to Himchal Pradesh, to Dharmsala, where the roads had hairpin turns and were narrow. Monkeys were everywhere. We had bread so we threw it out the window when we saw monkeys. We were reaching the Himalayas. The first time I saw them, I saw the snowcapped peaks, and they were floating in the sky, as if they were painted there. It was surreal, and as they came closer, they were huge. Arrived at the hotel after a nauseating drive, right across from our hotel were the Himalayas, no matter how crappy I can recall that hotel was, the view was wroth enduring the cold nights we spent there. The air was fresh, the hiking was fun, the town was quaint and the people friendly and not overbearing. It was personally one of my favorite places. It reminded me of my home in America as well.

Leaving Dharmsala was depressing. Drove back down to Jallandhar City in Punjab, where we were greeted by Rotarians and spent the night in Rotarians houses. Next day we were dropped off on the train where we face a long train ride. A 30 hour one for me. On the way, made some friends with this nice family who were very nice. I spent most of my time on the train talking to them and some time with the exchange students, we all didn’t want to leave each other, as soon as the first stop came for one of the exchange students to get off and go home, I knew that we did have to go our separate ways for now. Then each stop we lost more and more students, till finally it was just Brasil and I waiting for the stop in Valsad. I was greeted by my host parents and I gave them both a big hug. I was so happy to see them. I turned around to see the train leaving and waved goodbye to my new found friends on the train, who were heading to Mumbai. I thanked them, sad that I wouldn’t see them again.

I am now back in Valsad and I feel refreshed, I missed being in Valsad. And when I came back to Valsad, I was just coming home. It was just like coming back to my home from a long trip. I have realized that I really have adjusted and India feels like it’s really my home. I have made a home here in Valsad. It’s a wonderful thing.

The North trip was amazing and too much fun. I could write more, but it could just possibly bore all of you. It was so much fun, just to be with friends, traveling around India. This trip is only the beginning. And I can’t thank everybody enough for helping this whole thing happen, helping me get to India, helping me go on the North trip. Thank you so much. I mean it from the very bottom of my heart. I miss you all very. Much.

Hope all is well at home. Tata for now.
(pictures will be uploaded later, I promise!)