There and back again 31. März 2010

Puh, time is runing fast and I wanted to write, but well… now I am writing again.

Eva is gone, is actually at home and I am left here alone. But not really alone, I met quite a few people so I had a great time.

I am now in Udaipur, but I should be actually in Mt. Abu. I went to Mt. Abu, but later more.

In Udaipur I did the same horseriding trip as Eva, but I was not alone, were where 4 in total, but it was nice and the landscape and villages beautiful. I uploaded some pictures of that. Funny is, that one hores had blue eyes – that looks really weird.

The next day I went to Mt. Abu and the trip was good. Oh God, I cant even remember what happend the last week. Friday I did go there. Mt. Abu is relativly small (around 30000) and I walked from the bus stop to the hotel. The hotel seemed to be nice and the bed – ah, the BED – it had a reall matraze! That was great.

The next day I went to the Brahman Kumaris. That is a worldwide organisation that believes in the “supreme soul” which we call God or Allah or Buddah or whatever. I went to Mt. Abu basically because I wanted to do Yoga and Meditation ant the lonley planet said that you can do it there. I tried to call them before I went, but I couldnt get the information I was looking for. So, I went there and found out more… You can have there a course, but its only one hour a day or two a day if you have less time and it is basically about the philosophy of Brahma Kumaris and Meditaion, whiche is called Rajyoga and that was my main error. I thought that it was Yoga with Asanas (exercises) but its meditation – connecting yourself with the Suprem Soul. It was really interesting and the lessons I had with sister Gudi (Gudrun, a germal woman) and I see that they have great values. On the other hand there was also some weird stuff with it and I am not sure what to think about it. It might be true, it might not. In general I do believe that every person as a kind of own truth and understanding of the world. This includes that what for somebody is true it musnt be true to someone else.

In the hotel there where really nice people. For example a guy who was traveling for long 4.5 years and did great things with his pictures… But nethertheless there was something not right. I really cant explain what exactly it was but I felt very very bad. First of all I couldnt stand the owner, a for me very unsympathic guy. Then the hotel didnt had a nice area to sit down, relax and read – the chairs were super uncomfortable!!! In total I felt bad, really bad. For me it felt as if there was a lot of bad energy in that place. Weird.  I was so restless and I wanted to rest – that was the reason why I went there!

I decided to stay maybe two more nights so I could have more lessons in Brahma Kumaris, but the night went on and I couldnt sleep. At 4.30 am I got up and packed my bag and left 3 days after arriving. I went back to Udaipur, to the nice hotel with the lovley garden and the good Yoga lessons!

So, now I am back. I wanted to stay till Friday, but there is no train to Mumbai, so I will leave tomorrow. Before that I will have a cooking course and that will be awesome. I went there already yesterday and had the most delicouse Mango-Curry EVER! And Meenu (34-year old woman) is absolutly lovely and of course very beautiful!

In my feelings I am still not as calm as I should be. I still sleep not that good, I am restless and unpacient with people. But it is better here and I am trying not to do to much. So internet, Yoga and cooking is enough at all!

I could write more, but not now… now its lord of the rings time -  2 more books to read – about 400 pages till saturday I hope!

So nah und doch so fern… 28. März 2010

Haha Na das klappt doch schon wieder alles ganz super! Es ist Sonntag und ich bin in London. Eigentlich haette ich nun schon eine Nacht in Muenchen hinter mir, aber die British Airways hat beschlossen mir nen Strich durch die Rechnung zu machen. Mein Flug wurde gestrichen, zwecks Streik. Vielen Dank auch! Und dann bin ich schon in London und kann aber gar nix machen, da meine Zeit gerade dazu reicht vom Flughafen zum Hotel zu fahren, zu schlafen und wieder zum Flughafen zu fahren. Na wenigstens regnet es nicht… Jedenfalls noch nicht
Und auch lustig, Zeitumstellung! Dabei hab ich doch eh keine Ahnung wie spaet es gerade ist. Mumbai, Muenchen, London?! Und dann gehen auch noch alle Uhren anders! Blubb Kann mal jemand die Heizung anmachen?

Travelling Alone 23. März 2010

So, its done: Eva and I went diffrent ways last Saturday – although its funny: Now I am in the hotel, where she left this very morning! I am now in Udaipur – it took me not 9 hours, but just 6!

On Saturday I went on the bus to Jaisalmer – where the biggest Sandcastle in the world is Its not really true – its just a Fort! Never mind. So my bus was a private bus, but that kind of didnt matter. Millions of Indians (ok, not Millions, but a lot!) where in the bus as well, so I shared my seat with a woman and her kid. It was not really comfortable, but I thought it funny. You pay for one seat, have the expensive (relatively of course) private bus and you get only half a seat… But it was really crowded and its better to share the seat, than to let the other woman stand! I was listening music with my i-Pod and the second woman (they didnt go that far as I did) was really curios. I started showing her my pictures which where saved on there and that was really weird. I was watching the pictures with her eyes and that is so strange! Just imagine where I already have been in the world? There were some monkeys, beaches, waterfalls, partys at home, family, friends, Costa Rica, Greece, Holland, Snowboarding etc. I guess she didnt know what half of it was!!! We are so fortunate that we can do all these stuff. We are so rich in possibilities that these woman will never have! And yet to us its normal. That is ok, because for us it IS normal, but for most of the people in the world its not… Weird!

Jaisalmer itself is a really nice place. I liked it a lot. The fort is the only one, where still people live inside (around 5000) and is just nice to walk around it through the small streets and enjoy yourself. I even got 2 Euros!!!! A woman wanted to exchange them to rupees, I said yes: I gave her 150 for the 2 Euro – she made a good deal and I can buy a Brezn at the airport in Munich

What is really cool, when you are alone (sorry Ev!) is that you can better talk to people. I was chatting first with this young guy (maybe 23) and drank some tea. He wanted to take me to the desert and his village… I declined

Than, about 10 minutes later I met Papu, who owns a nice shop in the fort with textiles… That was not good. My backpack is now 4 kilos more heavier (I guess around 17 kg!!!! ) That is too much!!!! BUT its only 2,5 weeks now and it is sooo cheap Still stupid me! I couldnt resist and Eva was not there to stop me. Well, acutally I think she would have agreed with me, but 17 KILOS!!!! Ok, I stop. Its my own fault and I will not die because of it! And some… oho, I stop her!

With Papu I had also dinner and that was then becoming really weird. I guess he liked me. But still strange! His smile never reached the eyes and I had a weird feeling. And I still believed him about his work and stuff. He seemed to have really good prices and ethic standards. So I did believe him, but he looked as if he was not … I cant tell. He didnt lie! And he gave me two presents… Very weird!

Jana, my best friend back in Germany, had a really big surprise. Well, not surprise, because I guessed it already, but HURRAY! Isnt the world a wonderful place??? I think it is! I am looking so much forward to see her again soon!

You all already know that I am not the most resonable person in the world, so in Jodhpur I got a new book… Lord the Rings! 1200 pages! Isnt that stupid? Of course it is, the book is HUGE, but for that size very light (it is, I swear!!!) and I calculated if I read everyday 100 pages, I will have finished it before I go back home. And its in English and I always wanted to read that. What I dont really understand is why so many people have problems reading it. Again it was very exiting from the beginning (ok, “Concerning hobbits” maybe not that much, but still). Sometimes it gets a bit hard, but only for maximum 2-3 pages. Thats easy to deal with it… Well, I am now at page 222 (something more that 200) and I started on Saturday. Not bad! I love that book and will cry endlessly at the end – as always! Too sad, too sad!

Apart from that I met yesterday a really nice German guy on the train. He is actually on his holiday, but from Japan. He went there for a year and has now term break and is traveling India for 3 weeks. So nice and clever that guy! Its great to meet people who take the possibilities they have!

best Horse Safari ever! 21. März 2010

on my own…

Being without Mona didn’t start very good! I had to leave the hotel without the promised breakfast, then my bus to Udaipur left 45 mins late! Then the bus broke down and we had to fix it. It was just 40 degrees, so not too bad and there was this little, cute indian baby boy, who loved me! But still, it took me more than 9 hours, not 5!
But now I’m here and it’s a nice hotel and I like this city. And I’m just back from this awesome horse safari! Loved it! Great, healthy horses with curly ears and a guide, who loves to talk! Yeah Mona, they really exist! So if you ever want to go on a horse tour in India check this place out, they do also tours for a whole week. By the way I was the only one in this tour
http://www.hotelkumbhapalace.com/
And on our way we passed an animal hospital, which is also a great place. It’s founded by an american couple and the care for street animals, like dogs, cows and donkeys. So, if you feel like doing something good… this is your opportunity!
www.animalaidunlimited.com
Ok, enough now. I go and have a shower and then do some shopping for my dear friends back home, whom I will see again in a week!!!!

Us – today as we are! 19. März 2010

Eva and me in Jodhpur on our last day together of our trip around the world!

Tata to Eva 18. März 2010

In two days Eva will go to Udaipur and I will go to Jailsalmer (or stay longer here…)

So the trip for us both together will be over then. It doent feel like that – especially when I write it done. Well, we have come so far and seen so much, itwill be always our thing! Nobody can take it and this is it!

I am happy that we made it together and I am happy that Eva is here and was there with me most of the time to share the experiences, to lift me up and to bring me down! I couldnt have a better travelmate and not a better friend as well! I think I am very very lucky and thank God (or Gods) for that!

Today we saw the Fort in Jodhpur and it is soooo beautiful. This architecure is just soo amazing! I really love it!

And I love the indian culture. The friendliness and helpfulness of everybody!

Ps. There was really the real Santa Claus in Pushkar! It was him!!!! We was wearing a string and went swimming in the pool. I guess in April he has to go back to start preparing christmas!!! Can I go with him?

Kamel Safari 17. März 2010

Ok, ich bin nun schon seit gefuehlten hundert Jahren in Indien und hab noch nicht einen einzigen Eintrag geschrieben… Aber das seid ihr ja gewoehnt von mir

Mittlerweile sind wir in Jaodhpur angekommen, der blauen Stadt. Gesehen haben wir noch nichts, da wir uns heut von den “Strapazen” der Wueste erholen muessen. Nach dem ganzen Sightseeing wollten wir mal wieder ein bisschen Spass, und da wir mittlerweile schon alles kennen, muss halt mal was anderes her   Zum Beispiel so ein Wahnsinniges Blubberkamel! Aber alles der Reihe nach.

Nach Jaipur gings nach Pushkar, die Stadt in der der Weihnachtsmann Urlaub macht. Ja, es gibt ihn wirklich! Er hat nen langen weissen Bart und muss sich erst wieder seinen gemuetlichen Weihnachtsmannbauch antrainieren… Aber fuer Weihnachten ist er wieder fit, ich versprechs! Dort kam ich auch in den Genuss der guten indischen Aerzte und ich muss sagen, ich bin ganz begeistert! Da mach ich mal eine falsche Bewegung, und ZACK, kann ich mich nicht mehr bewegen, oder bessergesagt mehr so entenmaessig, wie die Mona damals in Australien (bestimmt koennt ihr euch noch alle erinnern). Aber der indische Wunderdoktor hat mich innerhalb von einem Tag wieder zum laufen bekommen, Respekt! Allerdings muss ich dazusagen, dass die Behandlung extrem schmerzhaft war. Er hat diese Punkte an meinen Fuessen gefunden, von denen ich nicht wusste dass sie existieren, und naja, ich hab dann so geschrien und geweint und die Mona hat meine Hand gehalten und gefragt ob sie mir ein Maerchen erzaehlen soll, wie damals in Peru als ich fast gestorben waer (ich uebertreib natuerlich nur unwesentlich ). Alles in allem, wenig ruehmlich fuer mich, aber Glueck gehabt.

Nachdem ich wieder Kameltauglich war, haben wir Pushkar hinter uns gelassen und sind mit dem Nachtbus (ja, dort kann man sich tatsaechlich hinlegen) nach Bikaner gefahren. Dort sind wir dann nach einer weiteren schlaflosen Nacht um 5Uhr morgens angekommen und haben nur zum Hotel gefunden, weil der nette Mann mit dem Fahrrad uns bei der Hand genommen hat (das ist halt Indien…). Nach ein paar Stunden Schlaf in dem steinharten Bett, sind wir wie “neugeboren” erwacht .  Dannach haben wir noch gelernt wie man Aloo Paratha macht (wie kommt denn die Kartoffel da rein?!). Wir muesen unbedingt lernen indisch zu kochen, weils so endslecker ist!

Am naechsten Tag (nach ein bisschen Pflichtprogramm und Shoppen) gings dann in die Wueste. Erst mit dem Auto bis zum Startpunkt und dort wurden wir schon von unseren beiden Kamelen und deren Herren erwartet. Das eine mit Wagen, das andere ohne.

Was soll ich sagen… Wueste ist toll, besonders nach den stressigen, laermenden, indischen Megastaedten. Es gibt nichts zu sehen (Entspannung fuer die Augen), ausser ab und zu mal ne Antilope. Schlafen im Sand unter den Sternen, Schaukeln auf dem Kamel (endsunbequem), oder doesen auf dem Karren. Heiss ist es schon, meine Penatencreme beweist es… weggeschmolzen . Aber in den Mittagsstunden, wenns am heissesten ist, laesst sichs im Schatten von einem Baum trotzdem aushalten. Natuerlich mit ner Tasse Tee in der Hand. Sogesehn passen wir beide extrem gut in die Wueste, da wird halt staendig Tee getrunken. Und unsere beiden Kamelmaenner konnten alles… auch Brot backen bei Dunkelheit!

Die schoenste Erfahrung waren natuerlich wieder die Begegnungen mit den Menschen aus den Wuestendoerfern. Die Kinder begruessen uns scharenweise mit “tata” und “ramram” und strahlenden Gesichtern und winkend Die Familien laden uns zum Essen und Tee trinken ein. Man kann sich zwar nicht unterhalten, aber anschauen und bewundern kann man sich gegenseitig schon! Und angeschaut wird man in Indien immer und ueberall. Als ich am dritten Tag die Augen aufgeschlagen hab, standen da zwei kleine Jungs und haben uns beim Schlafen angeschaut… Sehr interessant!

Ach, und der Abschluss war auch wieder landestypisch! Der Rattentempel! Tempel haben wir mittlerweile unzaehlige gesehen, aber dieser war… anders. Schuhe ausziehen ist generell angebracht und normalerweise kein Problem, aber hier lag so Zeug am Boden. Und das Zeug hat sich als Futter rausgestellt, denn ueberall liefen Ratten rum, und nicht zu wenig! und es hat gestunken und fliegende Ratten gabs auch! Inzwischen bin ich nicht mehr besonders empfindlich, aber das war echt eklig! Aber was soll man machen, die Ratten sind halt heilig. Ist halt Indien…

Taji… 5. März 2010

Wow, time passes – sometimes to slow and sometimes to fast.
Now to slow, or too fast… I cant decide!
We are now in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and we are sooo tired. We got up at 4 am in the morning to catch the train at 5.10 from Agra to Jaipur.
But before:
we arrived in Dehli and first of all couldnt find something to eat – that is a really serious problem for us! It was Holi, which is a big festival here and everything was closed! For 2 days!!! But it had also some advantages: first off all we could see holi! Its colorful because people throw colored powder on everything but mostly people and even 5 days later we see people with still pink hair, fingers, t-shirts etc. You maybe saw the pic Second of all the streets were really empty and that was nice! No horning alllll the time!
So after that we saw the really Delhi with traffic and noise and … we went to the Bahai Temple, which was awesome! Have you ever heard about Bahai? Its a philosophy or religion (or whatever you want to call it), where all gods are the same and peace is the most important thing! Sounds very very appealing to me! And the temple was amazing: the form is a lotus flower!
Then we saw the Red Fort which was nice, but after seeing the Agra Fort not so impressive anymore.
But in total Delhi was just to loud and full and … Well, we were happy to get out there!
On Wednesday we took the bus (only 2 hours to Agra… yes yes, it took us 6!!!) to Agra and saw the beautiful and absolutely amazing Taj Mahal! It is difficult to describe, so you better come and see it yourself
A day later we went to the Fort and that was also really nice. And you have a perfect view to the Taj form there!
Thats basically all what we did there, and now we are here – in Jaipur! Our time is really running, especially when you know how many places are still to see in just 3 weeks (or 4 4 me!)…
Ah, one thing – in Agra we took a Bicycle-Riksha instead of the normal ones. It was hard to see the man working so hard and we were just sitting there and relaxing. The bikes are realllly bad. The chain even broke (hehe, we should have had a lighter breakfast I guess… )! But its the mans living and at least we didnt pollute the air… Still – poor guy!
The food here is really amazing. Especially after Thaifood, which we both dont like that much! Ah, the naan and the dosas and the currys and masalas… everything is so delicious! I can eat indian food all day long without problems! Well, breakfast is not that good though.
What else…
- cows eat trash
- we saw camels
- women carry stuff (like wood, bins etc.) on their head (crazy)
- cars horn alll the time (even more often)
- saris are sooo beautiful (I want one!!!)
- more naan for everybody!
- we saw a goat – black with brown dots and white with black dots… on the same animal…