Beaching it in Anguna

We are now in a little rural beach town-Anguna!! (Goa). Some of already know, but this was/is a big hippie town so there are a lot of older burnt out 60's hippies and then also next generation hippies who seem to live here long-term. We have just been relaxing on the beach and exploring. We took a motor bike cab to Vagator, which is another gorgous beach town! Like Mumbai, everything is a few sizes smaller then Canada--the cars, stuff at the store and people. I feel like a big giant Canadian (oh, Janice was told she wasn't Canadian, she was "Hispanic"). For example, when we went to a Bollywood movie people kept asking us to slouch down because we were blocking their view. We went to two Bollywood movies, which were fun. Though of course we couldn't understand anything, but we took turns making up our own commentary. There is a lot of nationalism here, before the movie they play the Indian anthem and at the end one person yells something and then everyone cheers!! We're not sure how long we're going to stay, as we both love it here! but we will probably head down to Panjii in a few days...

More Mumbai Pics...

Here's a few more pics of Mumbai, Gandhi's house, dhoba's (where they clean clothes), a shrine on the steet (they're everywhere) and a few others....and Janice excited on the train.

Here's a few more of Mumbai, Gandhi's house, dhoba's (where they clean clothes), a shrine on the steet (they're everywhere) and a few others....and Janice excited on the train.

Today was India's Independance day and so a big holiday!! Janice and I went down to the "Gateway of India" on the waterfront which is where the British departed in '47. There were huge crowds and all these people wanted pictures taken with us!! This girl came up to us and asked if we would be in a picture, we said uhh ok, and then she screams and calls over her huge family and then they all start screaming and then we take the pictures. It was kind of embaressing as a huge crowd was all watching...and this kept happening. I must be in so many pictures today....with mothers, kids etc. haha. It was quite crazy..especially since this is the city. Though it's interesting to be a minority for once! Oh, and this holy man came and painted bindi's on us! There aren't many tourists here, though we met this girl the first day from Germany and some guys at the train station from Nigeria. The train station is insane. I have never everrrr seen so many people, there are 20 train platforms plus ticket booths etc. The crowds seem to work like a weather forecast, there are various "people currents" and if you're not in the current you are screwed. Janice and were very proud that we actually bought tickets to Goa and got out in one piece. haha. I actually couldn't stop laughing, as it's just so crazy. The crowds on the street are also crazy. First of all, everyone walks on the road because the sidewalks are filled with street vendors, cows/goats and various other things. Then when the traffic comes you just run to the side, or between cars if you need to cross. While there is a lot of povery, there really aren't many beggars (we've only been asked 2-3 times)--instead there are just lots of people selling nuts/flags/whatever else. People are really friendly, always saying "hello friend" and "namaste" and always helping if we're lost. This old man we were talking to asked us where we were from and then asked "Canada kicks ass??", it was so funny. All the men seem to wear western clothes and then all the women wear bright beautiful saris. We haven't really bought anything, but I did buy a shirt and my bartering actually worked!! The market is a very serious business it seems-everything is said really quietly so no one else can hear how low they will go..but yeah I got my shirt for 100 rupees ($2.50). Some other prices: our hotel is 13/night, water .20, nice dinner 3-4, 14 hr. train ticket 13.
Because this was a holiday weekend, we couldnt' get a ticket out of the city until the 28th, so I'll probably just write again in Anjuna--a beach town in Goa. :) -Sarah

Mumbai!!

Hi,
Janice and I are finally here!!! It was really easy to get through the airport (so small!!) and find a hotel. Though the driving is insane and sooo busy-more scary because our cab driver looked about 11 years old. :) The drive took us through a quick glimple of the different areas of Mumbai-rich and extremely poor. While I knew there are a lot of slums in Mumbai, I didn't realize that they were literally on the side of the street--ppl living a few feet from a the 6 lane highway.
Everything else is great! We are only staying another night and then heading out of the city...
-Sarah

New Blog!

Hi Everyone,
I leave for India in 21 days! But I wanted to set up my blog now so I can send it to everyone and make sure it works. I've heard that there will be pretty good internet access, but I'll just have to see when I get there...
I hope everyone is enjoying their break, and Happy 2007!
-Sarah

Saraswati, Hindu goddess of knowledge and the arts, embodies the wisdom of Devi. She is the river of consciousness that enlivens creation; she is the dawn-goddess whose rays dispel the darkness of ignorance. Without her there is only chaos and confusion. To realize her one must go beyond the pleasures of the senses and rejoice in the serenity of the spirit. Saraswati wears neither jewels or paints herself with bright colors. The white sari she adorns reflects her essential purity, her rejection of all that is base and materialistic. She rejoices in the powers of the mind as the patron of pure wisdom. She embodies all that is pure and sublime in Nature.