Thursday, November 4, 2010
The next chapter
I can't quite get over how these past few months have slipped away. I've been back in America for longer than my trip to Asia. Admittedly, it has been busy. In fact, since I left Asia, I have managed to squeeze into my schedule, my five major cities, London, Edinburgh, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. I've been lucky in that I have been able to find pieces of work in various places that has also given me the opportunity to revisit my various homes on this planet. On some level, I feel like this whirlwind tour of the different corners of my life, served to put it all in perspective, reminding me of who I am and my place in the world (particularly in comparison to being in Asia), and secondly, gave me an opportunity to say hello to the various friends I have collected along the way as my sense is that I won't see most of them for a while.
Everything is falling into place and although I haven't saved up as much as I would have liked, I am preparing myself for my return to India in December. This time I shall go for almost six months, travelling around the South of India for the first six weeks and then returning to Nepal for the following four months to study Nepali and do more work with EWN (Empowering Women of Nepal), the organisation I did the training with in May when I was there. Although it sounds like a long time to go off 'on holiday', I only really view the first six weeks as such as once I return to Nepal, I will be studying and then volunteering as well as getting deeper into my new project which I will write more about later.
So, I have decided to start a new blog, as this year is nearly over, and this definitely feels like the next chapter of my adventures
http://mirandatravelsblog.blogspot.com/
It is amazing to me how much my life can have changed in this last year and I am lucky to have so many wonderful friends all over the world, without whose support and hospitality this past few months gallivanting around the globe would not have been possible.
Everything is falling into place and although I haven't saved up as much as I would have liked, I am preparing myself for my return to India in December. This time I shall go for almost six months, travelling around the South of India for the first six weeks and then returning to Nepal for the following four months to study Nepali and do more work with EWN (Empowering Women of Nepal), the organisation I did the training with in May when I was there. Although it sounds like a long time to go off 'on holiday', I only really view the first six weeks as such as once I return to Nepal, I will be studying and then volunteering as well as getting deeper into my new project which I will write more about later.
So, I have decided to start a new blog, as this year is nearly over, and this definitely feels like the next chapter of my adventures
http://mirandatravelsblog.blogspot.com/
It is amazing to me how much my life can have changed in this last year and I am lucky to have so many wonderful friends all over the world, without whose support and hospitality this past few months gallivanting around the globe would not have been possible.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The View from London
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It's been just over two weeks since I took a plane from Mumbai to London. I was expecting a bit of culture shock as well as the decompression from rich and varied months away but actually the weirdest adjustment was how late it stays light in London midsummer.
The long summer nights when everyone in England is milking the warmth and light that has been eagerly awaited all winter. Whilst I had just left India with the Monsoon at my tail. By contrast, their long-awaited relief from the heat and assurance that their crops will get the liquid nurturing they require for the cycle to continue.
A fortnight later, I am now decompressing from a week in Somerset at the 40th anniversary of Glastonbury Festival. Another different world, albeit a temporary one. I remember thinking in Varanasi how it felt like a constant festival. So much celebration, so much music and ritual. The sounds of life coming from all directions, making you feel alive. Quite a different thing, but I experience the same sense of freedom and possibilities that inspire and excite. The trick is holding on to that inspiration when you get caught back up in 'normal' life.
So now what? I kept thinking I should at least write some kind of closing post to come to a conclusion, finish the story or at least let people know that they don't need to keep checking the blog to see where I am now... But I feel like the story has only just begun. Or maybe just the first chapter is done. Either way you look at it, I plan to return to Asia as soon as I can, which hopefully means some time in the Autumn.
(Of course this is all contingent on me magically gathering together some funds over the next few months. That said, if anyone has any work, any ideas or any money they want to point in my direction, feel free to get in touch!)
There is still so much I want to do and see. (I know there always will be as there is such a big world to explore, but one thing at a time). I definitely want to do more work with EWN and hope to do more mobile trainings in the other parts of the Karnali Zone, which would probably be next Spring. Ideally, the Winter months should find me exploring the South which was too hot to consider this trip round. And then there is the continuation of my original journey which took a few detours along the way and I daresay will take a few more when I finally pick it up again in Nepalganj and head to Manali. But that can wait til Summer.
And of course I have to go back and see all the friends I made along the way... as well as return to Darjeeling so I can finally see the views of Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world, which is supposedly in plain view - at least that is what was on the postcards. From these benches, behind the mist, there is a stunning mountain range, or so they say.
It's been just over two weeks since I took a plane from Mumbai to London. I was expecting a bit of culture shock as well as the decompression from rich and varied months away but actually the weirdest adjustment was how late it stays light in London midsummer.
The long summer nights when everyone in England is milking the warmth and light that has been eagerly awaited all winter. Whilst I had just left India with the Monsoon at my tail. By contrast, their long-awaited relief from the heat and assurance that their crops will get the liquid nurturing they require for the cycle to continue.A fortnight later, I am now decompressing from a week in Somerset at the 40th anniversary of Glastonbury Festival. Another different world, albeit a temporary one. I remember thinking in Varanasi how it felt like a constant festival. So much celebration, so much music and ritual. The sounds of life coming from all directions, making you feel alive. Quite a different thing, but I experience the same sense of freedom and possibilities that inspire and excite. The trick is holding on to that inspiration when you get caught back up in 'normal' life.
So now what? I kept thinking I should at least write some kind of closing post to come to a conclusion, finish the story or at least let people know that they don't need to keep checking the blog to see where I am now... But I feel like the story has only just begun. Or maybe just the first chapter is done. Either way you look at it, I plan to return to Asia as soon as I can, which hopefully means some time in the Autumn.
(Of course this is all contingent on me magically gathering together some funds over the next few months. That said, if anyone has any work, any ideas or any money they want to point in my direction, feel free to get in touch!)
There is still so much I want to do and see. (I know there always will be as there is such a big world to explore, but one thing at a time). I definitely want to do more work with EWN and hope to do more mobile trainings in the other parts of the Karnali Zone, which would probably be next Spring. Ideally, the Winter months should find me exploring the South which was too hot to consider this trip round. And then there is the continuation of my original journey which took a few detours along the way and I daresay will take a few more when I finally pick it up again in Nepalganj and head to Manali. But that can wait til Summer.
And of course I have to go back and see all the friends I made along the way... as well as return to Darjeeling so I can finally see the views of Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world, which is supposedly in plain view - at least that is what was on the postcards. From these benches, behind the mist, there is a stunning mountain range, or so they say.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Notes on Darjeeling
Sitting in Zoë's kitchen in North London, I can at least have a cup of tea from Darjeeling and recall that misty, almost magical place of Indian holidays.
Darjeeling feels like Nepal, except for the architectural remnants of the colonial era - the people there are predominantly Nepali, speak Nepali and consider themselves as such over being Indian even if they were born there.There are plenty of Indian tourists escaping the heat of the plains in the cool mist of the hills; struggling with broken English to communicate with locals who speak Nepali. They aren't put off by the lack of views due to the fog and they breathe a breath of fresh cold air as a respite to the searing heat that is enveloping the rest of the country. Tea shops, cheap eateries and stalls selling cheap clothes and Tibetan jewellery line the Mall leading up to Chowrasta, a big triangular 'square' at the top of the hill. Families stroll around in that aimless manner of holidays; children and the occasional embarrassed adult, ride the ponies that loll about and people generally just sit around watching the world go by munching on cobs of corn charred on coals. The two main tourist attractions are the toy train and the tea plantations both of which I managed not to get around to in the five days that I was there. At least I will still have sights to see when I finally lay eyes on Kanchenjunga.
I did make it to a lovely temple that is both Buddhist and Hindu situated at the top of the hill from Chowrasta. The whole site is shrouded in prayer flags strung between the trees and the morning mist is illuminated by shards of sunlight. Quite magical except for the row of women begging with their children who line the path on the way. I guess their prayers are yet to be answered. Maybe by the time people are heading back down and have given a few rupees here and there to the many different people manning the various dieties and areas of prayer, the hope would be that another rupee or two would pass through hands easily. I certainly noticed in my time that locals although often disregarding beggars will also be very nonchalant about parting with small change whereas most travellers rail against the idea in principle following the advice from guide books.Another place I visited was the Peace Pagoda. I had been particularly keen to see this as there is one in Pokhara overlooking the lake that I spent a lovely day visiting. We rowed across the lake and hiked up to the crest of the hill where you get 360 degree
views. That day was overcast and the brilliant white of the pagoda illuminated by the bright blanket of cloud was blinding. It was almost like being in heaven. The stupas, as they are also called, are part of a set of pagodas around the world built by a Japanese Buddhist organisation, Nipponzan-Myōhōji. The founder Nichidatsu Fujii, inspired by Gandhi's message of peace started building these pagodas as shrines to world peace in 1947 and now there are over 80 around the globe. Many of them are in Asia so imagine my excitement when I found out there is one in Milton Keynes! I didn't think it possible that I would actually find a reason to ever go there but the universe works in mysterious ways. I have a vague notion of trying to visit all of them through my lifetime... you know, just as I'm passing...
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