India!!! I am still having a difficult time comprehending that I actually traveled throughout India. I’m beginning to fully realize that all of the countries visited and many of the amazing things I have been a part of on this voyage will not soak in until months after I return to the U.S. The way SAS works is that you literally attempt to squeeze months of traveling into just one week or less. This type of traveling is honestly stressful and tiring, but in the end it is always worth it because of the things I witness and people I am able to meet. My week in India was no different; I filled my schedule to capacity in order to visit two of my bucket list destinations- Agra and Varanasi.
I traveled through SAS for this, so it was a nice luxury to have it all planned out for me along with tour guides. (Many SASers traveled independently in India and had amazing experiences. I was previously too scared to this, but now I can definitely say I would be completely confident traveling on my own throughout any country, especially India.) Anyways, my ship docked in Cochin/Kochi, India on March 12 and I immediately rushed to the airport with my group of 70 students. Later this evening we arrived in Delhi, a beautifully diverse city filled with immense poverty on the streets and the drastically wealthy elsewhere. This is a common factor of the modern caste system, which I never believed could be so evident, but regardless of what most Indians will argue, this caste system still exists. In addition to the caste system, I have to mention India’s population of approximately 1.5 billion which all live in a country that is 1/3 the size of the U.S. This can help explain the poverty and unemployment, but even more so this extreme number should help you to picture the crowded streets (which have no general direction of traffic), busy railway, and the inescapable rush of beggars and children everywhere. I only tell you about these factors of Indian life in hopes that you can create a mental image as I depict my travels through a truly amazing country.
My second day in India was probably one of the most difficult days of my life. At 5 a.m. I groggily followed my group as we ran to the Delhi railway station in the dark, cold and pee-smell filled air. Good morning India! The entire city was already and up and moving so early, I don’t know that India ever really does take a break, unless it is to go to a religious ceremony. After taking my first train ride, well ever, I can say it was quite the experience, but it was difficult to meet locals since we were placed in first class seating. After looking at the overcrowded, animal trailer looking general cars though, I can say I am appreciative I was not sitting there at my grumpy 5 a.m. state. Once we reached Agra we visited 3 World Heritage sites- Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort and finally the Taj Mahal! They were each so uniquely beautiful and the Taj Mahal was fascinating to see, yet much smaller on the inside than I ever imagined. Sunset at the Taj was breathtaking and I even enjoyed the Indians attempting to sneak pictures of me as they walked passed…hey everyone needs to feel like a celebrity at some point! :-)
The following day we departed Delhi for our second major part of the trip- Varanasi. I was so excited for this important city and ultimately had no idea what to expect. After an entire day of flying/driving we finally reached Varanasi just as the sun was setting and the city prepared for their evening ritual. Every evening the Hindus conduct the Aarti service on the River Ganges. I climbed out of the rickshaw, attempted to walk through the streets without being hit or sold junk, and finally reached the river bank. The bright colors, strong smell of incense, bells ringing, candles everywhere and the mass amount of people- Hindus and many white tourists all mixed together, surrounded me. It was breathtaking and I was immediately drawn to the stage front where the crowd surrounded the Brahmin performers. At this point I purposely separated from my large group in order to fully immerse myself in this celebration. It was so different than any religious experience I had ever seen and I loved it. I have never seen people so devoted to faith and it made me long for such a beautiful religious experience for my own faith. As with many other things, this trip puts all your beliefs to the test and has taught me a lot about what I do believe and should believe, rather than a close-minded approach I am sad to say I used to possess and many still possess.
The fourth day we went back to the Ganges River for yet another religious ritual, the morning cleansing bath in the river. We rode a boat through the river watching the refreshing morning life- people bathing, others meditating- and I made a wish with my candle lit, flower filled bowl before placing it afloat in the river. The entire experience was all so serene and peaceful. My time at the River Ganges was the most memorable in India. Forget the sightseeing and monuments, this was a real and living experience, and more than ever I felt so alive and awakened to the beauty of life. Even days later I still feel as though I gained more than I will ever understand from this experience and the rituals I witnessed. I am by no means a Hindu, but I do believe their faith has value and I respect the loyalty and devotion that its followers possess.
The remaining days I spent in India were on my own in Cochin, where the ship was docked. I went shopping, a lot, and actually enjoyed the task of bargaining in the Jew market. Paige and I also went to Kodanadu elephant sanctuary, an hour rickshaw ride outside of Cochin. We watched as the elephants were bathed in the river and followed the commands of their trainers. It was an interesting experience, but I don’t exactly see how this can be considered an “elephant reserve”? We were so close to the elephants and were able to pet them, but unfortunately were not able to ride them, which was our initial motivation for going to the reserve. Overall I absolutely enjoyed India. Its distinct people, beautiful religions, busy streets, and diverse cultures- I learned so much from everything I did and saw and even more from the people I conversed with. India taught me more about myself than I ever thought possible and left me with a hunger to learn more about what happiness is really about. Aside from being thankful, I feel truly blessed that I have had the opportunities to learn, question and grow individually that so many people never take the chance to do. Take any opportunity life brings your way…you could learn more about yourself than you ever imagined!
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