We are now in Srinagar, the place in India people tell you not to go to ever. A lot of extremists (Islamic extremists) here, so bombs and violent protests are the norm. The danger is exaggerated since it doesn't happen TOO often and its not always in the cities.
We have been staying at a house boat, which is exactly how it sounds; a house that is also a boat. We have to take boat taxis to get to shore and back. There are floating markets to buy everything you need and a lot of wild life. Its really nice here. We have been just relaxing, since we are about to go back into the shit storm of central India where you die in rickshaw accidents 3 times a day and the weather never bends below 45 degrees (and your ridiculed if you wear shorts!!).
Although I'm a fan of the place itself, since its gorgeous and reminds me of Canada in many ways, I'm not a fan of the people. They all seem like tricksters and sheisters. Even the family we are staying with can be really sketchy at times.
We have about 10 more days in India and I've realized 2 month trips are definitely not long enough. I feel almost upset to have to go home despite really excited about a lot of things coming up when I get home.
Speaking of which. When I come home, along with me will be cartons of cigarettes and beadies if anyone is interested :):)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Dave on the solo
So.
We are in Ley. It is awesome here up at 3500m. The drive from Manali was bumpy, uncomfortable, dusty and absolutely incredible. Literally driving amongst these behemoths we call mountains.
Two days into acclimatizing, we realized we have to make plans, and make em quick. Andrew decided to go on a motorcycle trip with Reto (Switzerland) and ... i forget (Israel). I decided to go off on my own, up north to villages near the pakistani border. little did I know, what an amazing interesting place it is.
The people of Dah-Hanu are completely different looking from the rest of India. They are almost Mesopotamian looking (south Greece? Iran?). They have their own language that only 3 thousand people in the world understand and can speak it. They are the descendants of Aryans and the lost soldiers of Alexander the great. They are called Dards and they practice a mixture of Buddhism, amistali and pre-vedic religious aspects. They are called brog-pa, since their is a Muslim clan in Pakistan. I visited 3 of 5 villages left of these people on earth.
The Indus river and the surrounding area is pretty gorgeous (where they live). Green patches and thriving vegetation in the mists of desert-y hills and barren cliffs. The Dards dress very different, hard to explain.
I bought some grape wine (hand pressed, completely organic, nothing else but grapes and maybe water) that is delicious. I discovered Orhan Pumak? If thats spelled correctly. I was sexually molested by a Nepalese man (not really, but kinda). I ate amazing food and chilled with the locals. I was the only tourist there that added to my experience.
All in all, it was an amazing experience that I am both disappointed and glad that I experienced alone. Andrew should be back from wherever he ended up going (since he didn't show up in Dha!)in a few minutes. Thank god I called home today, luckily, it was fathers day.
Pace.
We are in Ley. It is awesome here up at 3500m. The drive from Manali was bumpy, uncomfortable, dusty and absolutely incredible. Literally driving amongst these behemoths we call mountains.
Two days into acclimatizing, we realized we have to make plans, and make em quick. Andrew decided to go on a motorcycle trip with Reto (Switzerland) and ... i forget (Israel). I decided to go off on my own, up north to villages near the pakistani border. little did I know, what an amazing interesting place it is.
The people of Dah-Hanu are completely different looking from the rest of India. They are almost Mesopotamian looking (south Greece? Iran?). They have their own language that only 3 thousand people in the world understand and can speak it. They are the descendants of Aryans and the lost soldiers of Alexander the great. They are called Dards and they practice a mixture of Buddhism, amistali and pre-vedic religious aspects. They are called brog-pa, since their is a Muslim clan in Pakistan. I visited 3 of 5 villages left of these people on earth.
The Indus river and the surrounding area is pretty gorgeous (where they live). Green patches and thriving vegetation in the mists of desert-y hills and barren cliffs. The Dards dress very different, hard to explain.
I bought some grape wine (hand pressed, completely organic, nothing else but grapes and maybe water) that is delicious. I discovered Orhan Pumak? If thats spelled correctly. I was sexually molested by a Nepalese man (not really, but kinda). I ate amazing food and chilled with the locals. I was the only tourist there that added to my experience.
All in all, it was an amazing experience that I am both disappointed and glad that I experienced alone. Andrew should be back from wherever he ended up going (since he didn't show up in Dha!)in a few minutes. Thank god I called home today, luckily, it was fathers day.
Pace.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Strongest Man On Earth
Everytime I am about to do something I had reservations about, well, I'm obviously skeptical about my own abilities to do it, whatever it is.
This time, it was about climbing a mountain. It took us eight hours in total. We accented about 1000 meters within that time. My legs are hurting pretty bad, but in a good way. I feel really good bout not just making it up there, but making it all the way to the top and realizing I am in shape to do things like this.
We got up there, and there were locals with their sheep, cattle, buffalo, horses, ect... We had a 180 view of all the mountains surrounding this mountain town. It was breathtaking. An incredible end to an amazing hike filled with hot chai, wild horses and packs of stinkin apes :) (seriously)
No time to rest though. In 4 hours, we are off the Ley in Ladack to do some intense trekking. The bus ride is about 18 hours WOO! Looking foward to it though. We only have 3 weeks left. May seem like alot, but its nothing. We are already making sure we have enough time to do what we want and it looks tight already, but we'll manage.
Thank zombie jesus we didnt try to fit southern India in this trip, that would have been impossible.
PACE
This time, it was about climbing a mountain. It took us eight hours in total. We accented about 1000 meters within that time. My legs are hurting pretty bad, but in a good way. I feel really good bout not just making it up there, but making it all the way to the top and realizing I am in shape to do things like this.
We got up there, and there were locals with their sheep, cattle, buffalo, horses, ect... We had a 180 view of all the mountains surrounding this mountain town. It was breathtaking. An incredible end to an amazing hike filled with hot chai, wild horses and packs of stinkin apes :) (seriously)
No time to rest though. In 4 hours, we are off the Ley in Ladack to do some intense trekking. The bus ride is about 18 hours WOO! Looking foward to it though. We only have 3 weeks left. May seem like alot, but its nothing. We are already making sure we have enough time to do what we want and it looks tight already, but we'll manage.
Thank zombie jesus we didnt try to fit southern India in this trip, that would have been impossible.
PACE
Sunday, June 7, 2009
MAMAMIA
So.
Have not blogged in 3 weeks. A lot going on, a lot of moving around. I'm back in India, Rishakesh to be specific. It's where the beatles came in India to 'find' themselves. A lot of yoga, meditation, ect.. ect..
Hot as balls. Like 45 degree's? But we make up for it by finding waterfalls and bathing in the ganges. Met some really cool people. James, who we traveled with for 2 weeks has left back to bangladesh, gunna miss that guy.
Convinced him to shave all his beard except for his mustache and his life litteraly picked up since then. He got like 12 compliments a day. Only one guy, this drunk as fuck Nepali dude hated it. That's only because he's rascist towards Indians, which apparently a lot of tibetans/nepali's are.
Had a fantastic bday. Filled with hash, boat rides, boozing, steak, pool and more hash.. oh! and lemon fantas.. yyuummm.
Met up with a buddy from home in pokhara. That was cool. Hung out with alot of wierdo travelers fucked on valium, the essentials for long travels.
Just finished a 32 hour bus ride. Haridwar was balls, ganges was nice. Met a Indian tourist who loves his 'bang lassis'. Now in Rishakesh.
Gone tommorrow. Off to Manali, the mountain getaway, woot woot.
Its always tough to write this stuff. So much goes on in just a day, let alone trying to fill a 3 week gap in my travel blog.
ok. so I have decided a few things, since I've had time to contemplate my future. 1) I will be going to south america in the fall. 2) I am going to take my free trip to israel in december 3) moving to denmark will be in jan/feb unless unforseen events occur 4) I'll be going to N.B., N.S., T-dot, O-dot and the NYC during the gaps of the previous three points i have mentioned.
Ok, off to smoke 20 cent cigarettes, drink a limca (best drink on earth), listen to my ipod and work on this killer sudoku book I nabbed in Pokhara.
PACE
Have not blogged in 3 weeks. A lot going on, a lot of moving around. I'm back in India, Rishakesh to be specific. It's where the beatles came in India to 'find' themselves. A lot of yoga, meditation, ect.. ect..
Hot as balls. Like 45 degree's? But we make up for it by finding waterfalls and bathing in the ganges. Met some really cool people. James, who we traveled with for 2 weeks has left back to bangladesh, gunna miss that guy.
Convinced him to shave all his beard except for his mustache and his life litteraly picked up since then. He got like 12 compliments a day. Only one guy, this drunk as fuck Nepali dude hated it. That's only because he's rascist towards Indians, which apparently a lot of tibetans/nepali's are.
Had a fantastic bday. Filled with hash, boat rides, boozing, steak, pool and more hash.. oh! and lemon fantas.. yyuummm.
Met up with a buddy from home in pokhara. That was cool. Hung out with alot of wierdo travelers fucked on valium, the essentials for long travels.
Just finished a 32 hour bus ride. Haridwar was balls, ganges was nice. Met a Indian tourist who loves his 'bang lassis'. Now in Rishakesh.
Gone tommorrow. Off to Manali, the mountain getaway, woot woot.
Its always tough to write this stuff. So much goes on in just a day, let alone trying to fill a 3 week gap in my travel blog.
ok. so I have decided a few things, since I've had time to contemplate my future. 1) I will be going to south america in the fall. 2) I am going to take my free trip to israel in december 3) moving to denmark will be in jan/feb unless unforseen events occur 4) I'll be going to N.B., N.S., T-dot, O-dot and the NYC during the gaps of the previous three points i have mentioned.
Ok, off to smoke 20 cent cigarettes, drink a limca (best drink on earth), listen to my ipod and work on this killer sudoku book I nabbed in Pokhara.
PACE
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