The guy who took us was working for the time we were in Bombay/Mumbi so my pastor and I were on our own. The 1st day we were there we (pastor and myself) took a walk around the hotel we were staying in just taking everything in that we could. A "holy man" (he is considered a holy man b/c of what he does but not a true one b/c he expects money for it) came up to me, did this ritual; tied a yarn around my wrist, dotted my forehead, and gave me these white pebbles to eat, no I didn't eat them but my pastor Tom did, kind of ironic. Then after asked for 20 AMERICAN DOLLARS, I just passed the buck on to my pastor saying he had all of my money.
The 2nd day we were there we took a city tour, which lasted 8.5 hours and it was only suppose to be 5hrs; it was worth it though. We say so many temples and monuments and tombstones I can't remember what they were all for. We got to go to the market place, nothing like ours, no beef b/c cows are sacred part of their religion they rome free. The chickens were live and pigs not pre-packaged like here. People were walking around balancing big trays on their head filled with fruits and veggies. Mostly farmers selling their produce and grains then all of a sudden we would see a little Americanized store about 7ft by 7ft with glass case displaying everything in it like at a movie theater. There was Butterfinger, Snickers, Crest toothpaste, Oldspice deodorant, all American items, just didn't seem right to be there. We also say were everyone would wash their cloths, in this 3ft by 3ft concrete basin, it wasn't just one they spread out about 7 across and 50 down with everyone being used, hand washing, just sitting there spending hours, to me, wasting time but they can't help it.
Driving was unreal, it was as if lanes, road signs, stop lights and signs, speed limits didn't exist. Our driver would weave into the other lane even with on coming traffic to pass a car, person, cyclist, or rickshaw. And everyone gives crap to teenagers when they 1st get their licence, I don't' think you need one there.
I look back now, thinking of myself and how I was, I would love to admit that I wasn't selfish but I was. I wish I had learned more and appreciated more from that trip at that time. I do now but it shouldn't have taken me 7 years.
I have traveled in my life but not to the extent that I would like to. I
was an army brat the 1st five years of my life and after that didn't travel much
do to my family not having much disposeable income. Then the summer after my
sophomore year in high school a youth leader in our Church that I was attending
took the pastor and myself to India and Nepal which was an experience I'm trying
not to forget. I look back now wishing that I hadn't been so immature and
selfish when I went, that I had taken more pictures and video while I was there.
There are sites, sounds, smells, and tastes that I can never forget like they
way the cremate their loved ones, nothing in the way that we do it. The naked
kids coming up to the window holding out their hand. Homeless adults taking food
away from some kids that just found it on the street, or walking on the Taj
Mahal. It is a place that I'd love to go back to, with the experiences, views
and ideas that I have now.
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