Assorted Weekly Happenings

As our trip enters its final month, the schedule is beginning to slow down. Consequently, this week has had less unique experiences... but I'm sure I'll be able to tell a few good stories. :)

We left Dharamsala on Tuesday morning, but not before making a stop at the Tibetan Children's Village. TCVs are essentially boarding schools for TCs in various Northern India cities. It was fun to disrupt classes and spend a little time interacting with the children, and, well, some of them also had a good time. Others, well.... didn't receive me quite as exuberantly. I promise not all of the kids' reactions looked like this. I can only be so charming... moving on....




Amritsar is located in the state of Punjab. Punjab is home to India's largest Sikh population and the accent of The Simpsons character Apu. The Golden Temple, in Amritsar, is a famous religious monument for Sikhs. The picture I took of a picture of the Golden Temple at night doesn't exactly portray it the way we saw it during the day. The temple was overly crowded with semi-clothed individuals bathing in the inner pool, walking through a stagnant foot pool was required before granted entry, various smells were overwhelming, and the free meal that was provided didn't seem exactly sanitary. It didn't help that I was already feeling sick, but needless to say, all of my OCD buttons were pushed. I felt bad not eating the meal, as I was essentially refusing a daily method of Sikh community service. I just wasn't feeling it. :/

In the evening, we traveled 20 km. to the Pakistan border to watch a nightly ceremony. Both Hindi and Pakistani guards put on an elaborate show that represents both rivalry and respect between the two countries. I was surprised at the rather large size of the primarily Indian crowd. It was a fun night of Hindu patriotism, but it's interesting to think that a similar American-oriented spectacle would have disgusted me.


Our time back in Delhi before heading to Udaipur was full of the usual bumming around and refueling. Once again, I made my way to (my favorite) Palika Bazaar, this time with Bryce as reiforcement, to get some more bootleg DVDs. I returned to the same place where I had obtained the movies the last time, but I was informed by the owner that there had been a police problem and the DVDs were no longer available. When I showed disappointment, he looked around over his shoulders before telling me quietly that the DVDs were still in his car, parked in the Palika Bazaar parking garage. I weighed the risk of being abducted against the prospect of getting new movies, but I decided the man was legitimately afraid of getting busted. Having been a previous customer and made it out alive, I figured we had established an amicable "don't kidnap me" relationship. I followed the man through the Bazaar and down in the to the very bottom floor of the parking garage. We arrived at his SUV, where he told me to get in and we could drive around while I looked so he wouldn't get caught. Don't worry Mom, I refused, and he agreed to have me look at the movies with the engine lid open as though we were doing automotive maintenance. As before, I made my selections, currency was exchanged, and I was sent on my way. I'm expecting by next time I'll be eligible for a Black Market Membership card.

The journey continues next week with stories from Udaipur and... some other place. I guess we'll both find out then. Peace.