Had a fantastic day yesterday visiting the the Caves in Ajanta.
They are basically 29 caves that were carved out of the rock by Buddhist monks over 2200 years ago. They are just incredible to see and the detail in them is amazing.....I cant even imagine how long it must have taken to hand chisel them into solid rock and then do all the carvings and paintings...it truly is amazing to see. About 8 of the caves have a massive Buddha right at the back of them, I also cant believe I got to see over a thousands different Buddhas and never got a single picture! I'm missing my camera!;-(
When I arrived there I was approached by a guy who offered to be my guide, for RS150 (about £2) His name was Vismail, 22, good looking with this massive Hollywood (or is that Bollywoodd?) smile that looked really out of place in the ruins of Ajanta!! His pitch was that he would watch my shoes, which I wasn't particularly worried about...just thought it would be nice to have some company!
He clearly loves the caves and took great pride in pointing out all the 'passionate' paintings on the walls. His favourite was a painting of a Black king, feeding his white wife. "Black like me, white like you!" was repeated a couple of times! Or the Bhuddha that was sitting next to his wife and some how Vismail knew that she was asking for a kiss and he was saying no....his intuitive knowledge of the caves was highly entertaining, and we were pretty much laughing the whole 2 hours. When we started walking up towards the look out point (bells should have started by now) he had me well oiled for his hard sell pitch. After offering to hold my hand, to which i politely declined he stated matter of factly "My friend who used to work here, just like me, did meet lovely older German women who married him and took him home with her, he now lives in Germany and is very happy" (I wasn't to sure how I felt about being described as an older women!)
I tried to explain to him the meaning of the term "Barking up the wrong tree" to which he replied he wasn't asking me , all the women always ask him, because they like his big muscles!!! He then commented that he was simply giving me a tour because I had good personality and good figure! (nice to know;-)
I have to admit at this point I told a small white lie and said I had a boyfriend, on which we agreed that if my boyfriend hadn't married me by next year I would come back and marry him. Fair enough!
He also ended up giving me lessons on how to say no to people that approach me to buy things..... "Just look straight away and say NO, then they soon leave. Don't look, Don't look!!" It sounds so easy but no sooner do we get down the mountain than I am approached by two guys who had literally been waiting there for me the whole time. Michael and AK. Ak wanted me to buy postcards...and I made the cardinal mistake of looking at what he had. I only wanted one or two but he was selling them in packs of 12.... I really didn't want to buy them all, but he was soooooo persistant, and kept going on about how slow the season was, and all I kept thinking was its only one pound, its only one Pound! SO I bought the blasted postcards, with Vismail standing there shaking his head and smiling...with that " Have I taught you nothing look?" Michael then escorted me all the way back on the bus and took me to his shop which I really didn't want to go to either....but hell these people are so persistant. I looked around a bit and then managed to say no thank you and walk away. They seem to have this little turf war going between the sellers and the guides because when I had first arrived Michael started chatting to me he warned me not to get a guide as they just steal your money. And then when I was with Vismail he told me not to buy anything from the shops because they are all selling junk.
So as I walked away from Michael's stall another man came shouting after me saying: "You buy nothing??? They tell you not to buy didn't they? Guide told you not to buy!!!Why you buy nothing??" Breathe deeply, smile, feign complete ignorance and keep walking Gayle!!
Am currently back in Raj's hostel after another night bus journey and it does feel like home. I vaguely remember the bus guy shaking me to wake me up when we got to Andherhi this morning at 7am, I quickly gathered all my stuff and then literally fell down the stairs luckily caught by the 8 tuk tuk men waiting for me. It was pouring with rain and I had no umbrella (I seem to have lost it!;-( and I could barely even focus let alone negotiate a good fair. One of the men took me to his tuk tuk and announced that it would be RS1300 to Raj's hostel.....NO way in Hell it was!!! I was adamant that it was NOT that much as it was just up the road and I only paid RS 20 to get to the bus stop 2 days ago. He consistently tried to tell me how overpriced that place was, how dirty it was....and I just kept INSISTING that that was were I was going! Eventuality we agreed on RS 300. He drove for about 5 minutes by which time I had started to wake up and was absolutely FUMING because I knew I was being COMPLETELY ripped off. I made him pull off the side of the road and insisted that he was not going the right way. He insisted he was and continued promising me " No drive long around! " After about 10 minutes he pulls up at a place called Anjila Inn.....I told him this wasn't were I wanted to be and kept pointing to the card with the address on it.....eventually I just went in to try and get someone to explain to this man where it was I wanted to be. Luckily there was a guy inside who explained that it was Anjila Apartments that I was looking for....and off we set back in the direction we had started from from. And low and behold 20 minutes later I was back home. I was so bloody angry and told him I was NOT paying RS 300 for that and would only give him RS 200.....(Still WAY to MUCH, but what can you do?) He tried the whole "but my family poor speech" and I was absolutely NOT having any of it.....Go Gayle!!! I actually stood up for myself!!!
That been said.....as as persistant and annoying as the sellers can be the Indian people on a whole are really lovely......once you get past the staring, I do honestly feel really safe here and have been helped out by so many people which is always great. I am also proud to admit that in the 5.5 days I have been here I have been asked out 3 times and proposed to once so clearly my love life is starting to look up!!
PS I forgot to mention that my shoes broke so I spent most of the day walking around with no shoes.....needless to say Ollie you, and your worm infested....mmm....(lets say no more!:-) was never far from my mind!!! So lots of prayers for Gayles feet please
PPS Uncle Gavin just heared you are not well and that you are going to be force fed my blog by my number 1 and number 2 followers ...yeheee....I have another follower (be it an ill one!!!!:-) Get well soon, lotsa love from Mumbai!!!;-)
Friday, 30 July 2010
Thursday, 29 July 2010
The squatting rant!
So decided to wear my special Thailand bought trousers yesterday, long and comfortable and an absolute pain in the arse to go to the toilet with. Honestly the the only time I really and truly hate travelling alone is when i need to go to the blasted toilet. Last night after missing my night bus, due to the tuk tuk man dropping me off at the wrong place AND me suddenly realising that i didn't have enough cash for the ticket anyway. I finally found an ATM and the correct drop off point where my ticket was being kept. Luckily the man still had another seat available on the next bus. So only had 40 minutes to wait. Sweating like a pig and desperate for the toilet I was delighted to discover it was one of those long drop thingies. No matter how much I travel I don't think I will ever get used to these awful things!!
Without anyone to watch your bag for you, it has to come into the toilet with you. And no, there are no hooks to hang it on...and no clean, dry floor space to put it on. So I'm now basically trying to hold the bag with one hand and maneuver off the tie string pants from hell with the other. As soon as the thigh string is undone they literally fall off you. I managed to grab most of them but the tie string wasn't so lucky and got a good drenching. Now holding pants, and awful soggy tie string with one hand and bag with hand you have to squat!!! And then last but not least with absolutely no hands left you have to figure out how to wash yourself, becuase toilet paper it appears is a luxury! Its hell I tell you!
When I finally escaped the toilet, I am confronted with an old lady who clearly didn't want to wait for the next free cubicle and was simply squatting right next to the basin. Didn't really know how to conceal my shock on that one!
Ok sorry, rant over....but for the record I don't like squatting! Its not natural! ;-)
So am currently in a small town called Aurangabad. I arrived this morning on a sleeper bus, which was an experience in itself. Lets just say, most Indian people come prepared with sheets and I wasn't. Found myself sleeping on a musty, feet smelling mattress that probably hasn't been washed this century, with disgusting soggy wet tie string tied around my waist. (Salaha I thought about you, and had to chuckle to myself about how much you would have hated it!) I then discovered that I needed to share my bed with another passenger...
Luckily he was a really sweet Hindu man who refused to even lie down at first, and just perched himself on the end of the bed. Eventually he got down to horizontal position after I insisted that it was fine (about 20 times)
So eventually arrived in Aurangabad this morning at 9 am and despite the fact that I had been sleeping since 11pm the night before I had to go and sleep again. Woke up at 12..... still exhausted, went back to sleep and then woke up at 2.30 ....finally feeling a little more ready to face the day.
I had a really lovely day travelling around with a tour guide called Ashok. (So lovely I cant really figure out why I am in such a shockingly bad mood tonight) He took me to his house where I got to meet his family. He took me to his friends school which was just amazing. The kids were adorable and its just so unbelievable to see how little they have compared to UK children. And yet, as poor as they are....every single child was wearing a full school uniform. I was absolutely gutted that I had left my camera in my big bag at the hostel in Mumbai! So couldn't take a single photo. We then went to a chemist to try and get me something for the mild bladder infection that has been caused by all this squatting (did I mention I hate squatting?) Its not easy explaining what a bladder infection is to someone who doesn't speak a word of english. Especailly when you have a crowd of about 7 men standing around you watching. First he wanted to give me diarrhea stuff, then Eno, eventually I called Ashok to come and help me try explain....which he very proudly did and I got handed a box of tampons. Not, quite what I was looking for. Ashok then assured me that he had a very clever doctor friend he would take me to. And thank God he did. Finally got my medicine, bought 2 bottles just to be on the safe side. (I fear my squatting days are not numbered!)
And that's the end of my day, just realised that this is my first day without a cigarrette so that is undoubtably adding to my grumpy mood. But that said feel better for writing...and looking forward to a good, clean nights sleep
Nite
x
Without anyone to watch your bag for you, it has to come into the toilet with you. And no, there are no hooks to hang it on...and no clean, dry floor space to put it on. So I'm now basically trying to hold the bag with one hand and maneuver off the tie string pants from hell with the other. As soon as the thigh string is undone they literally fall off you. I managed to grab most of them but the tie string wasn't so lucky and got a good drenching. Now holding pants, and awful soggy tie string with one hand and bag with hand you have to squat!!! And then last but not least with absolutely no hands left you have to figure out how to wash yourself, becuase toilet paper it appears is a luxury! Its hell I tell you!
When I finally escaped the toilet, I am confronted with an old lady who clearly didn't want to wait for the next free cubicle and was simply squatting right next to the basin. Didn't really know how to conceal my shock on that one!
Ok sorry, rant over....but for the record I don't like squatting! Its not natural! ;-)
So am currently in a small town called Aurangabad. I arrived this morning on a sleeper bus, which was an experience in itself. Lets just say, most Indian people come prepared with sheets and I wasn't. Found myself sleeping on a musty, feet smelling mattress that probably hasn't been washed this century, with disgusting soggy wet tie string tied around my waist. (Salaha I thought about you, and had to chuckle to myself about how much you would have hated it!) I then discovered that I needed to share my bed with another passenger...
Luckily he was a really sweet Hindu man who refused to even lie down at first, and just perched himself on the end of the bed. Eventually he got down to horizontal position after I insisted that it was fine (about 20 times)
So eventually arrived in Aurangabad this morning at 9 am and despite the fact that I had been sleeping since 11pm the night before I had to go and sleep again. Woke up at 12..... still exhausted, went back to sleep and then woke up at 2.30 ....finally feeling a little more ready to face the day.
I had a really lovely day travelling around with a tour guide called Ashok. (So lovely I cant really figure out why I am in such a shockingly bad mood tonight) He took me to his house where I got to meet his family. He took me to his friends school which was just amazing. The kids were adorable and its just so unbelievable to see how little they have compared to UK children. And yet, as poor as they are....every single child was wearing a full school uniform. I was absolutely gutted that I had left my camera in my big bag at the hostel in Mumbai! So couldn't take a single photo. We then went to a chemist to try and get me something for the mild bladder infection that has been caused by all this squatting (did I mention I hate squatting?) Its not easy explaining what a bladder infection is to someone who doesn't speak a word of english. Especailly when you have a crowd of about 7 men standing around you watching. First he wanted to give me diarrhea stuff, then Eno, eventually I called Ashok to come and help me try explain....which he very proudly did and I got handed a box of tampons. Not, quite what I was looking for. Ashok then assured me that he had a very clever doctor friend he would take me to. And thank God he did. Finally got my medicine, bought 2 bottles just to be on the safe side. (I fear my squatting days are not numbered!)
And that's the end of my day, just realised that this is my first day without a cigarrette so that is undoubtably adding to my grumpy mood. But that said feel better for writing...and looking forward to a good, clean nights sleep
Nite
x
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
...has it been a month yet?
ok so am absolutely exhausted and promise this blog will not be nearly as long as the last. Can't figure out if its the screwed up sleep pattern (2am again last night), the heat, or the fact that I spent the night drinking beer with gorgeous
French, Jake Gyllenhaal look alike and his mates last night? (mmmm probably the latter). The absolute best thing about travelling is when you meet people who barely speak a word of English but they somehow get your sense of humour! Very cool! We ended up watching a movie in English that I didn't understand (no change there hey?) and they were trying to explain it to me....I still don't get it! But it was fun, so was very sad to see them leave this morning!
Its funny but with all my years of travelling I have never actually noticed how many odd and super unfriendly travellers there are out there...well I guess I did notice, but I was just too busy trying to figure out why the hell they didn't like me!!!:-) Armed with my new found awareness that the world is full of miserable/ uncommunicative (call it what you will) people and with my lovely friend Anita's words playing through my head continuously " Gayle what other people think of you is non of your bloody business' I definitely feel less affected by it all. Its a very comforting place to be and I know the next 'amazing' person that does 'get' me and my madness is just around the corner.
Now a brief summary of yesterday. About 6 of us (Jake gyllenhaal sadly excluded due to his excessive puking on his flight over- such a shame....) had a driver, drive us into the centre of Mumbai. Am very pleased to report that they have traffic lights there and the occasional traffic warden ticketing the bad drivers. (How they pick their victims is any ones guess as the driving in India is ATROCIOUS!)
Pretty much spent the day been driven around looking at sights, the heat was excessive and makes me soooo thankful that I never came in the Summer) Our guide Daniel was a lovely man, who very kindly took us to lunch ordered all the food that he wanted and then made us pay for it...it was a plan of utter brilliance! And I appreciated him for his cunningness......but Alas a few others where clearly not amused and ended up only paying for their food and leaving us, more jovial hearted people to foot the bill. (as I said some miserable people out there!)
So that's all I can say about my day really.....that and the fact that I seem to be a child scamming magnet. They seem to see me coming a mile off. Walked past this baby on the side of the road. Most adorable little thing ever, just sitting there looking cute. I suddenly saw her older sister who had no doubt clocked my heartbroken and yet adoring look, signal to her friend! It happened soooo fast: Within seconds she had grabbed the child up, her friend managed to whip out another adorable child from God knows where and I was then followed yet again, with the heart wrenching begging and the pleading. (Now thanks to my already mentioned wonderful dad who got me prepared for all of these scams....I knew that they ask you to buy powered milk and then resell it to the shop!) So I knew exactly what was going on....but I figured what the hell it wont kill me to get them a little something. But once I was in their shop of choice and discovered the price of the milk AND the rice they wanted....I was looking at an easy £7 - which for a budget traveller such as myself is almost a whole days survival. Besides seeing as I am no doubt going to be suckered by children for the next 4 months I decided that I needed to a little bit more strict with how much I give away. So much to their disappointment they got the very expensive rice and I vowed to be stronger next time!
Oh and lets not mention the present I bought for my lovely nephew, Rhys.....massive big balloons that are about a metre long and that you blow up with a bicycle pump. (Cheap, easy to carry and if Rhys didn't love them then I knew his dad would!!;-) I managed get the price down from 100 rupees each to 3 for 150. Bargain I scored!!!! Until I got home only to discover that they were really just normal balloons that you cant even blow up because they just pop. (Some how Mr Roper your words seem to haunt me: "Sweetie if its too good to be true then in probably is!!"
So NO more I am not buying any more crap! You heard it here first. I'm going to be strong, vigilant and sensible!!
...and now I'm going to sleep
PS Thanks for the book Ollie...it appears that when in India, every seasoned traveller has a book about a Yogi. Was very proud to pull out Paramahhansa Yogananda's autobiography" .....haven't got past the first paragraph yet...due to massive curiosity about EVERBODY's business .......but dam do I look cool!!!!:-) (and by end of the trip I might actually have read it!)
French, Jake Gyllenhaal look alike and his mates last night? (mmmm probably the latter). The absolute best thing about travelling is when you meet people who barely speak a word of English but they somehow get your sense of humour! Very cool! We ended up watching a movie in English that I didn't understand (no change there hey?) and they were trying to explain it to me....I still don't get it! But it was fun, so was very sad to see them leave this morning!
Its funny but with all my years of travelling I have never actually noticed how many odd and super unfriendly travellers there are out there...well I guess I did notice, but I was just too busy trying to figure out why the hell they didn't like me!!!:-) Armed with my new found awareness that the world is full of miserable/ uncommunicative (call it what you will) people and with my lovely friend Anita's words playing through my head continuously " Gayle what other people think of you is non of your bloody business' I definitely feel less affected by it all. Its a very comforting place to be and I know the next 'amazing' person that does 'get' me and my madness is just around the corner.
Now a brief summary of yesterday. About 6 of us (Jake gyllenhaal sadly excluded due to his excessive puking on his flight over- such a shame....) had a driver, drive us into the centre of Mumbai. Am very pleased to report that they have traffic lights there and the occasional traffic warden ticketing the bad drivers. (How they pick their victims is any ones guess as the driving in India is ATROCIOUS!)
Pretty much spent the day been driven around looking at sights, the heat was excessive and makes me soooo thankful that I never came in the Summer) Our guide Daniel was a lovely man, who very kindly took us to lunch ordered all the food that he wanted and then made us pay for it...it was a plan of utter brilliance! And I appreciated him for his cunningness......but Alas a few others where clearly not amused and ended up only paying for their food and leaving us, more jovial hearted people to foot the bill. (as I said some miserable people out there!)
So that's all I can say about my day really.....that and the fact that I seem to be a child scamming magnet. They seem to see me coming a mile off. Walked past this baby on the side of the road. Most adorable little thing ever, just sitting there looking cute. I suddenly saw her older sister who had no doubt clocked my heartbroken and yet adoring look, signal to her friend! It happened soooo fast: Within seconds she had grabbed the child up, her friend managed to whip out another adorable child from God knows where and I was then followed yet again, with the heart wrenching begging and the pleading. (Now thanks to my already mentioned wonderful dad who got me prepared for all of these scams....I knew that they ask you to buy powered milk and then resell it to the shop!) So I knew exactly what was going on....but I figured what the hell it wont kill me to get them a little something. But once I was in their shop of choice and discovered the price of the milk AND the rice they wanted....I was looking at an easy £7 - which for a budget traveller such as myself is almost a whole days survival. Besides seeing as I am no doubt going to be suckered by children for the next 4 months I decided that I needed to a little bit more strict with how much I give away. So much to their disappointment they got the very expensive rice and I vowed to be stronger next time!
Oh and lets not mention the present I bought for my lovely nephew, Rhys.....massive big balloons that are about a metre long and that you blow up with a bicycle pump. (Cheap, easy to carry and if Rhys didn't love them then I knew his dad would!!;-) I managed get the price down from 100 rupees each to 3 for 150. Bargain I scored!!!! Until I got home only to discover that they were really just normal balloons that you cant even blow up because they just pop. (Some how Mr Roper your words seem to haunt me: "Sweetie if its too good to be true then in probably is!!"
So NO more I am not buying any more crap! You heard it here first. I'm going to be strong, vigilant and sensible!!
...and now I'm going to sleep
PS Thanks for the book Ollie...it appears that when in India, every seasoned traveller has a book about a Yogi. Was very proud to pull out Paramahhansa Yogananda's autobiography" .....haven't got past the first paragraph yet...due to massive curiosity about EVERBODY's business .......but dam do I look cool!!!!:-) (and by end of the trip I might actually have read it!)
Monday, 26 July 2010
...whirlwind.....and thanks....
What a manic couple of days....I am finally in Mumbai, and not really sure where to begin.....
My last weekend in London: incredible and hectic, ....basically just spent it catching up with friends and sorting out the last bits and pieces. After a week of getting to bed at 1.30 am every night I finally crawled into bed at 4.00 sat morning having packed and sealed my boxes for shipping....I had been told they were going to be picked up in the late afternoon on sat...but they ended up coming at 9am. So was massively relieved that they were all done and ready....lol I think the poor shipping guy was a bit overwhelmed by my excitement to see him.
So armed with my last to do list I set off for my last day in London I decided to take my new camera with to take some photo's of my friend Alice. Imagine my 'horror' to discover it wasn't working. I was gutted as it had worked the night before when i had plugged it into the mains to charge.....randomly spent 20 minutes trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with it...and distraught packed it up to take to Dixons....maybe the more 'photo savvy minds' could sort it out!! (Dad why didn't you give me those genes?)
So first stop Dixons....very sweet looking girl looked about 12, seemed a bit perturbed as to what I actually wanted her to do, as I hadn't even bought the camera there: "Just look at it please I begged its not working"
She opened it up...took one look and said :" um it will probably work if you put the battery in the right way" yep....enought said. I was still completely confused as to how it had worked the night before if the battery was the wrong way around??? ...until my ever so sensible and logical flatmate Stella pointed out hours later......"it was plugged into the mains Gayle!" Again...enough said! (I would just like to add its hard being a victim of a non logical mind...but it does bring so much amusement to my friends so I thought you would enjoy that one;-)
I finally arrived in Mumbai after sleeping through my entire flight....which seems such a shame especially since Alison, aka Midgit, somehow managed to use her magic charms on the check-in guy and got me upgraded to a club class seat.(go Midgit!!) Not quite business class mind you al...but definitely more comfortable than economy class. I vaguely remember seeing them starting to serve the food, closing my eyes for a few seconds and then opening them to find I was still waiting for my food....it took about another hour for me to figure out that I had actually slept through the entire meal, and no the middle, aged grumpy air hostess hadn't woken me up. I then proceeded to spill my drink all over myself, seemed unable to get my video control to work and eventually just gave up and went back to sleep happily think about the wonderful send off I have had from all my UK friends.
Arriving in Mumbai i checked my email from the hostel only to discover as section that said you needed to send them your flight details as a confirmation of your booking. Which of course I hadn't done. Typical. So I walked out of the station just hoping that by Divine intervention the guy from the hostel would still be there to pick me up. He wasn't. I had only been standing there looking a little lost and forlorn for about 2 minutes when this Indian guy, who looked official enough, came up to me and asked were I was going. I showed him my hostel booking print out and he started phoning the number for me. My relief soon turned to paranoia as he started talking to the guy in a way that just seemed a little too friendly. (Due to the fact that my lovely father had begged me to google Indian scams before I left: which i did...I remembered reading that they would often pretend to phone the hostel and then phone another place.... every inch of my gut told me that was was he was doing) Low and behold he got off the phone and said I didn't have a booking. I wanted to grab my Little hostel printout and run away AS FAST AS I COULD but seeing as he was the only friend I had in India,and I was lugging 18kg of luggage...running away wasn't really an option. After remaining reasonably calm I insisted on speaking to the guy at hostel myself...and after much insistence he called back and let me speak to him. The guy on the other end said he did have a booking for me but he just needed my flight booking number....I started to give it to him and my new found best friend suddenly grabbed his phone off me and basially just ran away.
So I stood there for about 2minutes obviously looking more forlorn than ever, on the verge of jet lagged emotional 'Giant' Gayle tears and another guy came up to me and asked me were I was going. Take 2, Luckily he had a name tag: James and my gut didn't learch when I spoke to him. He took the number from me and I watched him type in the number so i knew it was legit...and low and behold I had a booking. 20 minutes later I was picked up by a lovely guy Raj and taken to my hostel the Anjali Inn. Saved from my first, but no doubt not last scam attempt!
So spent the day walking around the outskirts of Mumbai with a guy from Manchester called Simon that I met at the hostel.....absolutely surreal experience. The extreme poverty every where you look is just heart breaking, India kinda makes south Africa look like a 1st world country. People sleeping on sides of the roads in little make shift tent houses, dogs, goats, even saw a horse just eating out of the trash....(Chickens packed in catches that barely even move). And while taking all of this in you surrounded by this intense, completely INSANE traffic. Continuous hooting, no road markings...no traffic lights. Pure mayhem! A small child followed us for about a mile begging for money.....it was heart wrenching...I would have actually given him something for his persistence and determination....had i had any change on me but I didn't. We eventually found a tuk tuk to take us to Anderhi Station only to have this same child run with the tuk tuk for as far as he could.
At one point we sat down on the side of the road just to watch.......(well, and for me to have a cigarette....:-)This guy came up with his phone and wanted to take a picture of us.....before we knew it....this massive crowd of people just surrounded us, easily about 15....all just looking and staring. Everywhere we went we were just stared at. We didn't see as single tourist the entire 3 hours that we where out. Oh yeh did I mention that its monsoon season here? And to think I threw my umbrella away in London with so much joy! So to my dismay I decided that I would have to buy and umbrella. I managed to barter the guy down from 100 rupees to 70. I was still muttering to Simon about how much I had been taken for, when 3 minutes later the sky literally opened up and drenched us. Never in my life have I seen rain come like that....it was literally like a bucket of water was just tipped over us.....i think its was Gods way of saying..." shut up Gayle and be thankful you have an umbrella" Needless to say I did, and I was :-)
All I can say is I am soooo glad i was with a guy for my first day out because it was so completely and utterly exhausting and overwhelming, and had I been alone it probably would have been way too daunting. Of course that said it didn't help that I was wearing my newly renovated short dehnim skirt (thanks Rowshan- I love it!) and sleeveless top either. Simon didn't really seem to mind though because he had all the men smiling knowingly, winking and giving him thumbs up signs. So note to self: while in India cover up Gayle!!!
After walking around for 2 hours we eventually found the so called Andheri station (cant remember why we were actually looking for it in the first place- but we found it.) Only to realise we had walked right passed it and hour and a half before. The station itself was mad. Health and safety eat your heart out. The trains pull in, no doors on them and so full people just hanging out of them. Before it has even stopped everyone starts jumping off the train. Made me sooooo excited to take my first train trip! NOT!
We then tried to navigate ourselves home only to realise that we were both as clueless as each other....after spending 10 minutes just trying to cross the road safely we realised that we actually had to be on the other side of the road to catch a tuk tuk. Another 10 minutes later....we evetually found one to take us home. And low and behold who do we almost run over but the same little boy who had been following us earlier. The shock of nearly being killed quickly wore off when he realised it was US!!!!....and the determined little bugger start chasing our Tuk Tuk again. This time I had some cash so I figured what the hell.....he scored 10 rupees for all his efforts! And I think Simon and I felt just a little less heartless than before!
Got home at 6, and slept for 2 and a half hours solid. Watched a movie and am now awake again at 2am....this is a bad habit I will need to break!!!
And thus ends my first day.
So am exhausted and have to get to sleep.....but before I go bare with me because although the next part might be tedious.. I just HAVE to do it!!!
I have done a lot of travelling before and never in my life have I felt so loved and so safe. I was just so overwhelmed by the send off I got in London from all my friends. I feel like I have little things all over the place that are constant reminders of everyone.
Melissa thanks for just being there, especially on Sunday morning when I had my mini melt down and couldn't finish my packing due to the hyperventilation and floods of tears! Ollie thanks for sorting out my cash passport online (mid mini-melt down)and for eating my food for all these months, and loving it!! Stella thanks for just cleaning up after me and my friends the WHOLE weekend and for spoiling me so much. You are such a honey!!
Salaha, Ollie and Stella I love the gorgeous necklace you gave me and I am going to miss living with you guys!!! (Salaha, so happy for you and Hesham (spelling?) and that you are both getting your happy ending that you so deserve!)
Thanks to all my Old Ford friends for my fantastic camera...(that is now working;-)
Thanks to ALL my Coda friends (you know who you are) for your love and support these last 9 months....I couldn't have got to this point without you! (Lewis, Anita, Vanessa, Deborah and Nancy I'm going to miss ALL our chats but look forward to resuming in 5 months)
Alice thanks for posting my last package for me and for all the wonderful coffee dates we have had....Im going to miss you!
Stevie and Irina: Thanks for giving me a home the last couple of years and for making me part of your family...literally! I love you both and the little ones!!
Harvey and Kate.....thanks for just being sooooo cute together and making me sooooo proud to have set you up!!! And for my lovely fair well dinner and for flying me back to London next year for your wedding, and for making me YOUR best Man and for naming your first child after me! Geeeeees Im sooooooo excited!!! ;-)
To all my other ex flatmates..(Hugh, ray, Amelie, Lee and Grant!)who lived with me and still loved me, (despite the manic depressive/paranoia moodiness!) each of you made my London time special....and I love you all!
Midgit...oh Midgit.....where to begin. Thanks for arriving at my house on Sunday in floods of 'Midget tears'. It was the sweetest most loveliest thing ever....especially since for the last 4 years you have been mopping up the Giant Ones tears!!:-) And thanks for spending my last day with me and taking a kazillion photo's of me continuously, in every single postion you could possibly find. I think you might just miss me! It was so lovely having you and Mark at the airport and I know Im already missing you!
Now I am getting paranoid that I am leaving people out......To all my old friends that have stayed in touch for all these years Kelly, Bronwyn, Simone, Kirsty, Collete and Ilse and Lisa, (and Kristie) ....I LOVE you guys and cant wait to see you all soon!)
I used to think I was deprived in life because I never had One best friend......now I realise how blessed I am because I simply have so many awesome friends.....and Im truly greatful for each and everyone of you.
And last but not least my lovely family. Mum and dad I wouldn't be blogging if it werent for your constant praise of all my emails so thanks for your belief in me and for all your love. (Thanks for my bracelt mum, I think of you everyday when I wear it and I cant wait to get home and start my life with you in SA) Lloydi how are you going to survive 5 months without me???? Lol How amd I going to survive 5 months without you!!! Brucie who is going to give you such great coaching advice?? (I look forward to working as you Tea girl when I get back) Tez thinking of you, especially at this time and love you lots. Yaai- paii So sorry I didn't get to say goodbye to you but look forward to seeing you at the end of the year!!! Stella...3 BIG boxes will arrive in 6 weeks with my life in them thanks for looking after them for me and a BIG thanks for being the instigator in me getting my drivers liscence!!! ! And lovely Dee...thanks for finding me a great Job in SA!!:-) I know you can do it!! Look forward to catching up in Cape Town.
And I think I am finally finished.....its now 3AM Im still awake....no suprise there...so I think its time I went to bed. Going on a paid tour for the whole day tomorrow mummy so you can rest assured that I will be safe and with lots of people! (If you didn't worry about me travelling alone I would be worried...it shows that you care and I love you for it!!)
Im exhausted...but before I go to bed I am going to have to go clean all the the melted chocolate out of my rugsack! (Bless you midgit!;-)
My last weekend in London: incredible and hectic, ....basically just spent it catching up with friends and sorting out the last bits and pieces. After a week of getting to bed at 1.30 am every night I finally crawled into bed at 4.00 sat morning having packed and sealed my boxes for shipping....I had been told they were going to be picked up in the late afternoon on sat...but they ended up coming at 9am. So was massively relieved that they were all done and ready....lol I think the poor shipping guy was a bit overwhelmed by my excitement to see him.
So armed with my last to do list I set off for my last day in London I decided to take my new camera with to take some photo's of my friend Alice. Imagine my 'horror' to discover it wasn't working. I was gutted as it had worked the night before when i had plugged it into the mains to charge.....randomly spent 20 minutes trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with it...and distraught packed it up to take to Dixons....maybe the more 'photo savvy minds' could sort it out!! (Dad why didn't you give me those genes?)
So first stop Dixons....very sweet looking girl looked about 12, seemed a bit perturbed as to what I actually wanted her to do, as I hadn't even bought the camera there: "Just look at it please I begged its not working"
She opened it up...took one look and said :" um it will probably work if you put the battery in the right way" yep....enought said. I was still completely confused as to how it had worked the night before if the battery was the wrong way around??? ...until my ever so sensible and logical flatmate Stella pointed out hours later......"it was plugged into the mains Gayle!" Again...enough said! (I would just like to add its hard being a victim of a non logical mind...but it does bring so much amusement to my friends so I thought you would enjoy that one;-)
I finally arrived in Mumbai after sleeping through my entire flight....which seems such a shame especially since Alison, aka Midgit, somehow managed to use her magic charms on the check-in guy and got me upgraded to a club class seat.(go Midgit!!) Not quite business class mind you al...but definitely more comfortable than economy class. I vaguely remember seeing them starting to serve the food, closing my eyes for a few seconds and then opening them to find I was still waiting for my food....it took about another hour for me to figure out that I had actually slept through the entire meal, and no the middle, aged grumpy air hostess hadn't woken me up. I then proceeded to spill my drink all over myself, seemed unable to get my video control to work and eventually just gave up and went back to sleep happily think about the wonderful send off I have had from all my UK friends.
Arriving in Mumbai i checked my email from the hostel only to discover as section that said you needed to send them your flight details as a confirmation of your booking. Which of course I hadn't done. Typical. So I walked out of the station just hoping that by Divine intervention the guy from the hostel would still be there to pick me up. He wasn't. I had only been standing there looking a little lost and forlorn for about 2 minutes when this Indian guy, who looked official enough, came up to me and asked were I was going. I showed him my hostel booking print out and he started phoning the number for me. My relief soon turned to paranoia as he started talking to the guy in a way that just seemed a little too friendly. (Due to the fact that my lovely father had begged me to google Indian scams before I left: which i did...I remembered reading that they would often pretend to phone the hostel and then phone another place.... every inch of my gut told me that was was he was doing) Low and behold he got off the phone and said I didn't have a booking. I wanted to grab my Little hostel printout and run away AS FAST AS I COULD but seeing as he was the only friend I had in India,and I was lugging 18kg of luggage...running away wasn't really an option. After remaining reasonably calm I insisted on speaking to the guy at hostel myself...and after much insistence he called back and let me speak to him. The guy on the other end said he did have a booking for me but he just needed my flight booking number....I started to give it to him and my new found best friend suddenly grabbed his phone off me and basially just ran away.
So I stood there for about 2minutes obviously looking more forlorn than ever, on the verge of jet lagged emotional 'Giant' Gayle tears and another guy came up to me and asked me were I was going. Take 2, Luckily he had a name tag: James and my gut didn't learch when I spoke to him. He took the number from me and I watched him type in the number so i knew it was legit...and low and behold I had a booking. 20 minutes later I was picked up by a lovely guy Raj and taken to my hostel the Anjali Inn. Saved from my first, but no doubt not last scam attempt!
So spent the day walking around the outskirts of Mumbai with a guy from Manchester called Simon that I met at the hostel.....absolutely surreal experience. The extreme poverty every where you look is just heart breaking, India kinda makes south Africa look like a 1st world country. People sleeping on sides of the roads in little make shift tent houses, dogs, goats, even saw a horse just eating out of the trash....(Chickens packed in catches that barely even move). And while taking all of this in you surrounded by this intense, completely INSANE traffic. Continuous hooting, no road markings...no traffic lights. Pure mayhem! A small child followed us for about a mile begging for money.....it was heart wrenching...I would have actually given him something for his persistence and determination....had i had any change on me but I didn't. We eventually found a tuk tuk to take us to Anderhi Station only to have this same child run with the tuk tuk for as far as he could.
At one point we sat down on the side of the road just to watch.......(well, and for me to have a cigarette....:-)This guy came up with his phone and wanted to take a picture of us.....before we knew it....this massive crowd of people just surrounded us, easily about 15....all just looking and staring. Everywhere we went we were just stared at. We didn't see as single tourist the entire 3 hours that we where out. Oh yeh did I mention that its monsoon season here? And to think I threw my umbrella away in London with so much joy! So to my dismay I decided that I would have to buy and umbrella. I managed to barter the guy down from 100 rupees to 70. I was still muttering to Simon about how much I had been taken for, when 3 minutes later the sky literally opened up and drenched us. Never in my life have I seen rain come like that....it was literally like a bucket of water was just tipped over us.....i think its was Gods way of saying..." shut up Gayle and be thankful you have an umbrella" Needless to say I did, and I was :-)
All I can say is I am soooo glad i was with a guy for my first day out because it was so completely and utterly exhausting and overwhelming, and had I been alone it probably would have been way too daunting. Of course that said it didn't help that I was wearing my newly renovated short dehnim skirt (thanks Rowshan- I love it!) and sleeveless top either. Simon didn't really seem to mind though because he had all the men smiling knowingly, winking and giving him thumbs up signs. So note to self: while in India cover up Gayle!!!
After walking around for 2 hours we eventually found the so called Andheri station (cant remember why we were actually looking for it in the first place- but we found it.) Only to realise we had walked right passed it and hour and a half before. The station itself was mad. Health and safety eat your heart out. The trains pull in, no doors on them and so full people just hanging out of them. Before it has even stopped everyone starts jumping off the train. Made me sooooo excited to take my first train trip! NOT!
We then tried to navigate ourselves home only to realise that we were both as clueless as each other....after spending 10 minutes just trying to cross the road safely we realised that we actually had to be on the other side of the road to catch a tuk tuk. Another 10 minutes later....we evetually found one to take us home. And low and behold who do we almost run over but the same little boy who had been following us earlier. The shock of nearly being killed quickly wore off when he realised it was US!!!!....and the determined little bugger start chasing our Tuk Tuk again. This time I had some cash so I figured what the hell.....he scored 10 rupees for all his efforts! And I think Simon and I felt just a little less heartless than before!
Got home at 6, and slept for 2 and a half hours solid. Watched a movie and am now awake again at 2am....this is a bad habit I will need to break!!!
And thus ends my first day.
So am exhausted and have to get to sleep.....but before I go bare with me because although the next part might be tedious.. I just HAVE to do it!!!
I have done a lot of travelling before and never in my life have I felt so loved and so safe. I was just so overwhelmed by the send off I got in London from all my friends. I feel like I have little things all over the place that are constant reminders of everyone.
Melissa thanks for just being there, especially on Sunday morning when I had my mini melt down and couldn't finish my packing due to the hyperventilation and floods of tears! Ollie thanks for sorting out my cash passport online (mid mini-melt down)and for eating my food for all these months, and loving it!! Stella thanks for just cleaning up after me and my friends the WHOLE weekend and for spoiling me so much. You are such a honey!!
Salaha, Ollie and Stella I love the gorgeous necklace you gave me and I am going to miss living with you guys!!! (Salaha, so happy for you and Hesham (spelling?) and that you are both getting your happy ending that you so deserve!)
Thanks to all my Old Ford friends for my fantastic camera...(that is now working;-)
Thanks to ALL my Coda friends (you know who you are) for your love and support these last 9 months....I couldn't have got to this point without you! (Lewis, Anita, Vanessa, Deborah and Nancy I'm going to miss ALL our chats but look forward to resuming in 5 months)
Alice thanks for posting my last package for me and for all the wonderful coffee dates we have had....Im going to miss you!
Stevie and Irina: Thanks for giving me a home the last couple of years and for making me part of your family...literally! I love you both and the little ones!!
Harvey and Kate.....thanks for just being sooooo cute together and making me sooooo proud to have set you up!!! And for my lovely fair well dinner and for flying me back to London next year for your wedding, and for making me YOUR best Man and for naming your first child after me! Geeeeees Im sooooooo excited!!! ;-)
To all my other ex flatmates..(Hugh, ray, Amelie, Lee and Grant!)who lived with me and still loved me, (despite the manic depressive/paranoia moodiness!) each of you made my London time special....and I love you all!
Midgit...oh Midgit.....where to begin. Thanks for arriving at my house on Sunday in floods of 'Midget tears'. It was the sweetest most loveliest thing ever....especially since for the last 4 years you have been mopping up the Giant Ones tears!!:-) And thanks for spending my last day with me and taking a kazillion photo's of me continuously, in every single postion you could possibly find. I think you might just miss me! It was so lovely having you and Mark at the airport and I know Im already missing you!
Now I am getting paranoid that I am leaving people out......To all my old friends that have stayed in touch for all these years Kelly, Bronwyn, Simone, Kirsty, Collete and Ilse and Lisa, (and Kristie) ....I LOVE you guys and cant wait to see you all soon!)
I used to think I was deprived in life because I never had One best friend......now I realise how blessed I am because I simply have so many awesome friends.....and Im truly greatful for each and everyone of you.
And last but not least my lovely family. Mum and dad I wouldn't be blogging if it werent for your constant praise of all my emails so thanks for your belief in me and for all your love. (Thanks for my bracelt mum, I think of you everyday when I wear it and I cant wait to get home and start my life with you in SA) Lloydi how are you going to survive 5 months without me???? Lol How amd I going to survive 5 months without you!!! Brucie who is going to give you such great coaching advice?? (I look forward to working as you Tea girl when I get back) Tez thinking of you, especially at this time and love you lots. Yaai- paii So sorry I didn't get to say goodbye to you but look forward to seeing you at the end of the year!!! Stella...3 BIG boxes will arrive in 6 weeks with my life in them thanks for looking after them for me and a BIG thanks for being the instigator in me getting my drivers liscence!!! ! And lovely Dee...thanks for finding me a great Job in SA!!:-) I know you can do it!! Look forward to catching up in Cape Town.
And I think I am finally finished.....its now 3AM Im still awake....no suprise there...so I think its time I went to bed. Going on a paid tour for the whole day tomorrow mummy so you can rest assured that I will be safe and with lots of people! (If you didn't worry about me travelling alone I would be worried...it shows that you care and I love you for it!!)
Im exhausted...but before I go to bed I am going to have to go clean all the the melted chocolate out of my rugsack! (Bless you midgit!;-)
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
.....the count down begins.....
Ok so thanks to my gorgeous friend Melissa I now have a blog....and bless the women, I'm also semi/half almost packed. She provided that brutalness I so desperately needed when deciding what the hell I needed to send home. Her stock question for the last 3 hours has been: "You don't really need that do you!" mmmmmm apparently not! (although I stood firm on my faithful old 'chicken fillets" A girl never knows when she is going to need a little extra lift;-)
So 3 full days away from ending my 12 years in London and I'm a bit at a loss as to how I'm feeling.....excited, definitely but also mildly heartbroken at having to say good bye to all my incredible friends. Feels like I have this massive clock ticking behind me as I manically try to make plans to see everyone....
But apart from that I am happy. Finally getting to live my dream of 5 months of travelling and equally excited about moving back to SA in December and having time with my family, its been long over due.
So hopefully this will be a good way to keep in touch with my friends and family......and thank God for small miracles, it has a spell checker so you will all be saved from my atrocious spelling.
So there you go Melissa...I wrote something...thanks for all your help tonight.I love you babe!!!
So 3 full days away from ending my 12 years in London and I'm a bit at a loss as to how I'm feeling.....excited, definitely but also mildly heartbroken at having to say good bye to all my incredible friends. Feels like I have this massive clock ticking behind me as I manically try to make plans to see everyone....
But apart from that I am happy. Finally getting to live my dream of 5 months of travelling and equally excited about moving back to SA in December and having time with my family, its been long over due.
So hopefully this will be a good way to keep in touch with my friends and family......and thank God for small miracles, it has a spell checker so you will all be saved from my atrocious spelling.
So there you go Melissa...I wrote something...thanks for all your help tonight.I love you babe!!!
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