Writer's Block
Ahoy all,
Sorry for vanishing for more than a week - I've been doing the travelling part of travelling, and I'm managing to stay more busy than usual - and to top it off, there was writer's block. So I took that to mean that my eyes weren't open enough, and I started travelling around again.
I think that it will be possible to include an animal story in every single blog entry now, so let's get onto today's. A monkey tried to attack me the other day. I was hiking back from a waterfall with some friends, and it came up out of nowhere and batted at my lower legs. It looked up and gazed at me like a petty thief out of a Dickens novel. I warned it that despite my Buddhist leanings (am I crazy to talk to monkeys?), I was not against pretending it was a soccer ball, and I think it got the drift and left me alone.
I zipped back to Delhi to submit my passport application. It was a relief being in the Canadian embassy... being asked for service in "English or Francais" was music to my ears. Also, to hear from the lady that "Canada was on my case," was pleasing, and a world away from dealing with Indian officials. It was nice to have my India-feet about me returning to Delhi.
I'm now 18 hours on train southwest from Rishikesh, in the west of India in Rajasthan. It wasn't part of my original plan, but fellow travellers consistently told me (sometimes ordered me) to come out here. First impressions are that it's worth it - it's a desert state, filled with ancient Moghul palaces. It's punishingly hot in the day - it's probably in the high 30s right now, but the nights are cool enough to provide relief.
The train ride was fantastic. For 300 rupees, which is something like eight dollars... I can go 12 hours by train and have a comfy foam bench to sleep on. That said, Indian rail is interesting... chai-wallahs hopping car to car and yelling "chai chai chai" through the night. On the daytime train trip from Rishikesh to Delhi, I was chatting with a man who worked for the air force. I think it was a sign of a good, penetrating conversation that he had to answer some of my enquiries with, "I'm sorry, that's classified."
I'm reading Gandhi's autobiography right now. The Indian government publishes a special at-cost version, and the nicely-bound little book cost me about 75 cents. It's very moving, his complete humility and determination for the truth are good inspiration, but his flaws and caving into impulses reveal the complete man. It also documents his lifestyle and dietetic experiments - a curious habit that I have in common with him! Naturally, I find myself thinking about this book alot.
Postcards will come soon, looking around the internet cafe it's clear that I'm in prime postcard territory. If you want one, facebook me with an address that will be valid 4-6 weeks from now (so all you res kids, home addresses please ;)) or e-mail me at artfuldodger34@hotmail.com
Sorry for vanishing for more than a week - I've been doing the travelling part of travelling, and I'm managing to stay more busy than usual - and to top it off, there was writer's block. So I took that to mean that my eyes weren't open enough, and I started travelling around again.
I think that it will be possible to include an animal story in every single blog entry now, so let's get onto today's. A monkey tried to attack me the other day. I was hiking back from a waterfall with some friends, and it came up out of nowhere and batted at my lower legs. It looked up and gazed at me like a petty thief out of a Dickens novel. I warned it that despite my Buddhist leanings (am I crazy to talk to monkeys?), I was not against pretending it was a soccer ball, and I think it got the drift and left me alone.
I zipped back to Delhi to submit my passport application. It was a relief being in the Canadian embassy... being asked for service in "English or Francais" was music to my ears. Also, to hear from the lady that "Canada was on my case," was pleasing, and a world away from dealing with Indian officials. It was nice to have my India-feet about me returning to Delhi.
I'm now 18 hours on train southwest from Rishikesh, in the west of India in Rajasthan. It wasn't part of my original plan, but fellow travellers consistently told me (sometimes ordered me) to come out here. First impressions are that it's worth it - it's a desert state, filled with ancient Moghul palaces. It's punishingly hot in the day - it's probably in the high 30s right now, but the nights are cool enough to provide relief.
The train ride was fantastic. For 300 rupees, which is something like eight dollars... I can go 12 hours by train and have a comfy foam bench to sleep on. That said, Indian rail is interesting... chai-wallahs hopping car to car and yelling "chai chai chai" through the night. On the daytime train trip from Rishikesh to Delhi, I was chatting with a man who worked for the air force. I think it was a sign of a good, penetrating conversation that he had to answer some of my enquiries with, "I'm sorry, that's classified."
I'm reading Gandhi's autobiography right now. The Indian government publishes a special at-cost version, and the nicely-bound little book cost me about 75 cents. It's very moving, his complete humility and determination for the truth are good inspiration, but his flaws and caving into impulses reveal the complete man. It also documents his lifestyle and dietetic experiments - a curious habit that I have in common with him! Naturally, I find myself thinking about this book alot.
Postcards will come soon, looking around the internet cafe it's clear that I'm in prime postcard territory. If you want one, facebook me with an address that will be valid 4-6 weeks from now (so all you res kids, home addresses please ;)) or e-mail me at artfuldodger34@hotmail.com
posted by Steve C at 11:08 PM
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