Check out our latest adventures in Dominican Republic....
www.dominicanrepublic2009.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Last day in India...
So I decided that I would spend my last night in India in Varkala…(where we had our R&R) I arrived just in time to throw on my suit and make it down the cliff in time for sunset swim. I then had dinner at our favourite restaurant, Italiano.
It was weird being there without the team…I had my usually greek salad and broke my ashram detox with some “special tea”. I then headed down to chat and have some chai with Ozsi, our 21 year old jeweler. (only in India could I possibly say I have a jeweler)
I’m not sure why, but I decided to stay at the familiar Bamboo House… (please read earlier blog entry on extra guests in the room) But it felt good to be welcomed back...
He then told me a story about the God Shiva’s son. The son was fighting against evil in Sri Lanka so Shiva made all the stones float so that her son could walk across the ocean. He then gave me one of the stones, called Shiva's eye as a gift. Ozsi’s wise beyond his years and was always giving us profound thoughts that he learned from his grandfather. (either that or he’s a really, really good salesperson)
Next, I flew from Trivandrum to Mumbai. I had a set plan of what I wanted to do in Mumbai…Throughout the trip, I have been reading Shantaram, a 932 page book that takes place in Mumbai. So I’ve been taking on a bit of Lin’s persona and I’m so excited to see things in the book. I wanted to go to the Gateway of India...Check out the Taj Mahal Hotel...Eat at Leopolds..
Then I head over to have dinner at Leopolds. They were filming in there to get people’s reaction to the terrorist shooting there in November. They say the restaurant opened up in less than a month after the shooting. I sat in the back of the place feeling pretty safe until the waiter pointed out the bullet hole in the mirror about a foot from where I was sitting. (I asked for my bill at that point...)
So we head to the Regal Cinema to catch Slumdog Millionaire. I say "we" because somehow along the way, my driver, Silverstin, decides that he’s coming with me to the movie. He was so excited about seeing a movie, I didn’t have the heart to say anything. So we get to the theatre and it turns out that Slumdog is only playing at the Regal in the afternoons now. So Silvestin says he knows where there’s another theatre, so we race around Colaba in the taxi. After going to four theatres and finding no shows before 10pm, I’m ready to give up. But Silverstin is determined to find one for me. This would sometimes happen to me when I was in Africa. If I said I wanted to do something or buy something, everyone would go crazy trying to do it or find it. Once I said I liked a lady’s purple kanga and for the next week, all the girls were searching the markets to find me one. They kept saying, “what about this one?” I eventually bought an ugly kanga they suggested, just so they’d stop looking.
Things I’ve learned in India….
-This trip has brought about an abundance of patience in me that I never thought I had. I’ve stood in so many queues, had people bud in and push me out of the way and nothing seems to faze me anymore. (we’ll see if that lasts once I’m back in Canada)
-I’ve also found a new sense of personal space. At the ashram, you think the floor space is all taken because Michelle C and I are only about 6 inches apart. The next thing you know, there’s 5 people who've squeezed inbetween us… You might not always get what you want, but you'll always get what you need.
-And lastly, I’ve learned that if you give your credit card and your passport to a guy named Babu and all you get back is a ripped paper with a flight itinerary on it, you sometimes just have to trust that the universe is going to look after you….
See you back in Canada…
It was weird being there without the team…I had my usually greek salad and broke my ashram detox with some “special tea”. I then headed down to chat and have some chai with Ozsi, our 21 year old jeweler. (only in India could I possibly say I have a jeweler)I’m not sure why, but I decided to stay at the familiar Bamboo House… (please read earlier blog entry on extra guests in the room) But it felt good to be welcomed back...
Our usual night watchmen came to see me to let me know that he’d be listening to see if I needed anything. So I tucked into bed and within 10 minutes, found that there was a whole family of something living in my ceiling. I was really missing my roommate Michelle about then. (although I’m not sure what she would have done to save me except join in the screaming?) I somehow made it through the night…(with a light on just to make sure they didn’t come in the room.)
I made it to yoga on the beach first light and then went for my last swim before heading back to Canadian snow….At that point Ozsi sent me a note that he had something for me so I went to see him for breakfast.
I made it to yoga on the beach first light and then went for my last swim before heading back to Canadian snow….At that point Ozsi sent me a note that he had something for me so I went to see him for breakfast.
He then told me a story about the God Shiva’s son. The son was fighting against evil in Sri Lanka so Shiva made all the stones float so that her son could walk across the ocean. He then gave me one of the stones, called Shiva's eye as a gift. Ozsi’s wise beyond his years and was always giving us profound thoughts that he learned from his grandfather. (either that or he’s a really, really good salesperson) Next, I flew from Trivandrum to Mumbai. I had a set plan of what I wanted to do in Mumbai…Throughout the trip, I have been reading Shantaram, a 932 page book that takes place in Mumbai. So I’ve been taking on a bit of Lin’s persona and I’m so excited to see things in the book. I wanted to go to the Gateway of India...Check out the Taj Mahal Hotel...Eat at Leopolds..
And then finally, go see Slumdog Millionaire at the Regal Cinema at 8pm. (I checked the time on the internet)
I come out of the airport to grab a taxi and after a month of haggling prices, I just don’t have it in me so I agree on their asking price of 2200 rupees for 8 hours. That’s about $55 Cdn so I think that’s pretty reasonable until Michael sent me an email saying he did the same thing last week for 1200 rupees.
So we head out to the Gateway of India…
And across the street is the Taj Mahal Hotel...
Then I head over to have dinner at Leopolds. They were filming in there to get people’s reaction to the terrorist shooting there in November. They say the restaurant opened up in less than a month after the shooting. I sat in the back of the place feeling pretty safe until the waiter pointed out the bullet hole in the mirror about a foot from where I was sitting. (I asked for my bill at that point...)
So we head to the Regal Cinema to catch Slumdog Millionaire. I say "we" because somehow along the way, my driver, Silverstin, decides that he’s coming with me to the movie. He was so excited about seeing a movie, I didn’t have the heart to say anything. So we get to the theatre and it turns out that Slumdog is only playing at the Regal in the afternoons now. So Silvestin says he knows where there’s another theatre, so we race around Colaba in the taxi. After going to four theatres and finding no shows before 10pm, I’m ready to give up. But Silverstin is determined to find one for me. This would sometimes happen to me when I was in Africa. If I said I wanted to do something or buy something, everyone would go crazy trying to do it or find it. Once I said I liked a lady’s purple kanga and for the next week, all the girls were searching the markets to find me one. They kept saying, “what about this one?” I eventually bought an ugly kanga they suggested, just so they’d stop looking. So Silverstin goes by another theatre and there is a movie about to start so I jump out to buy us tickets and he goes to park. It turns out that Slumdog is sold out. So, the next thing I know, I’m sitting in a Bollywood movie, buying Silverstin a burger and a soda like we're on a date…and wondering how did I get here? Ah...life in India....
Things I’ve learned in India….
-This trip has brought about an abundance of patience in me that I never thought I had. I’ve stood in so many queues, had people bud in and push me out of the way and nothing seems to faze me anymore. (we’ll see if that lasts once I’m back in Canada)
-I’ve also found a new sense of personal space. At the ashram, you think the floor space is all taken because Michelle C and I are only about 6 inches apart. The next thing you know, there’s 5 people who've squeezed inbetween us… You might not always get what you want, but you'll always get what you need.
-And lastly, I’ve learned that if you give your credit card and your passport to a guy named Babu and all you get back is a ripped paper with a flight itinerary on it, you sometimes just have to trust that the universe is going to look after you….
See you back in Canada…
Thursday, February 5, 2009
House Guests
So life in Varkala is good and our team has settled quite nicely into our little Bamboo hut life.
Yoga on the beach in the morning, coffee at the Temple Coffee house, shopping, swimming, more shopping and at least one or two meals at the Italiano Restaurant.
Usually before bed, I read some of my 932 page book, Shantaram. So one night, I’m at the part where Lin is living in the slums in Mumbai. So I’m not sure if I’m still reading of the creepy crawler episodes or if something really did crawl across my arm. So I move my hand further up and feel it again. Ugh… So I jump out of bed and turn on the lights. Our little creature is hiding at the end of the bed but we can see the shadow of it's antennae. Since Michelle C and I are now jumping around the room, I open the door to go get our night watchman. He comes running over like we’ve just been shot but in the typical Indian fashion, asks our permission before entering our hut. He even takes his shoes off. Once he’s there, we pull back the mattress and the 3 inch cockroach runs away. Our watchman jumps around looking for something to catch it with so we give him a bag but the bugger goes into hiding. Our guy then runs out to get some spray. Then he starts spraying at the head of our bed.
The cockroach comes out and he starts spraying the thing like a carwash. (Apparently cockroaches can withstand a nuclear war so the spray only serves to annoy our guest.) By this time, I’m out the door doubled over laughing because Mich C is herding our guy towards cockroach (no touching in this culture) and screaming out “kill it, kill it”. (I don’t think Hindus are too keen on killing creatures either) So our guy grabs a bucket and a paper and flicks the cockroach into it and brings it outside. As it starts to climb out of the basket, Mich C is screaming “step on it!!!” I’m still laughing as I point out the guy is not wearing any shoes….
So our guys tells us to wait five minutes for the spray to disperse and then we can go back to bed. (yeah right) So we sit and watch and out comes a baby cockroach… It was a little easier to catch. Then out came the “Mama” roach… By this time, another man has appeared and is helping in the hunt.
Yoga on the beach in the morning, coffee at the Temple Coffee house, shopping, swimming, more shopping and at least one or two meals at the Italiano Restaurant.Usually before bed, I read some of my 932 page book, Shantaram. So one night, I’m at the part where Lin is living in the slums in Mumbai. So I’m not sure if I’m still reading of the creepy crawler episodes or if something really did crawl across my arm. So I move my hand further up and feel it again. Ugh… So I jump out of bed and turn on the lights. Our little creature is hiding at the end of the bed but we can see the shadow of it's antennae. Since Michelle C and I are now jumping around the room, I open the door to go get our night watchman. He comes running over like we’ve just been shot but in the typical Indian fashion, asks our permission before entering our hut. He even takes his shoes off. Once he’s there, we pull back the mattress and the 3 inch cockroach runs away. Our watchman jumps around looking for something to catch it with so we give him a bag but the bugger goes into hiding. Our guy then runs out to get some spray. Then he starts spraying at the head of our bed.
The cockroach comes out and he starts spraying the thing like a carwash. (Apparently cockroaches can withstand a nuclear war so the spray only serves to annoy our guest.) By this time, I’m out the door doubled over laughing because Mich C is herding our guy towards cockroach (no touching in this culture) and screaming out “kill it, kill it”. (I don’t think Hindus are too keen on killing creatures either) So our guy grabs a bucket and a paper and flicks the cockroach into it and brings it outside. As it starts to climb out of the basket, Mich C is screaming “step on it!!!” I’m still laughing as I point out the guy is not wearing any shoes….So our guys tells us to wait five minutes for the spray to disperse and then we can go back to bed. (yeah right) So we sit and watch and out comes a baby cockroach… It was a little easier to catch. Then out came the “Mama” roach… By this time, another man has appeared and is helping in the hunt.
Throughout this, Mich C and I are packing and moving our bags around as the guys are spraying and the roaches tour the room. At one point, the watchman flicks the roach and it pings off the chest of the other guy like he’s playing hot potatoe and doesn’t want to catch it…. Eventually the Mama gets the big squash… So for the rest of the night, Michelle and I leave the lights on and sleep facing the headboard. I think I could have won $10,000 if I had a video of this! As a tip, I think we gave our watchman the equivalent of a week’s wages. Well worth it to us!
Monday, February 2, 2009
R & R
I just want to reiterate that no fundraising dollars went towards our R&R...
We spent 3 days of R&R in a small seaside village called Varkala... Our bamboo huts were at the top of a cliff so we went down to the beach every morning for yoga and watching the sun rise...
One morning, we walked down the beach to the end and there was a Buddhist ceremony going on. It was to honor the dead....amazing to watch..
We spent 3 days of R&R in a small seaside village called Varkala... Our bamboo huts were at the top of a cliff so we went down to the beach every morning for yoga and watching the sun rise...
One morning, we walked down the beach to the end and there was a Buddhist ceremony going on. It was to honor the dead....amazing to watch..
Sunday, February 1, 2009
School Visit...
On one of our last days, we did a tour of the local public school. Many of the kids we had gotten to know so our two classroom tour ended up covering the whole school. One of the classes even sang the Indian national anthem to us. I'm not sure how much they liked our singing when we returned the favour with "Oh Canada"
This is one of my favourite pictures... On the last day, we handed out these pics and the mother of the middle girl was so excited to have this picture...
After visiting the classrooms, we stood out in the school courtyard and all the students came around asking for us to sign our name in their books. It was a swarming and now I know how Angelina feels... (well except for the Brad part...)
Friday, January 30, 2009
Team Poem
“Wanna Come” Tim asked?
We said okay, fine.
So here we are…
India Build 2009!
Rick our first aider,
Was the first to need stitches…
Then there’s Chantel,
With her bites and itches!
Michael had a problem,
To do what he had to do…
He ended up using tea #3,
To go number 2…
Melissa had an Indian dream,
Coconuts she did adore.
Next thing you know she’s sick,
So watch what you wish for!
Taking turns running to the loo,
Penny and Mary did go.
And all I can say…
Is “E – I – E – I - O!!”
All good, All the time,
Says Radio Channel M!
Keeping quiet at Amma’s
Is going to be a real challenge for them!
As the official team photographer,
Although, not paid.
Pasquale ended up..
As the Grassis’ personal Nursemaid!
And what will Nat do?
With her money all spent...
The only gift she can give to her new boyfriend...
Is Ce-Ment! Ce-Ment!!
Then there's Kevin and Steve's musical talent...
That makes us admire them.
That was until...
Dave came knocking at 2 am!
Lastly, there's Karen and Jamu,
Each have a liquid they prefer...
Jamu's is vodka and Limca,
And Karen's is Hand San-i-tizer!
Tim... You're a true leader...
One of the best we've met.
Thank you for making India 2009,
A build we'll never forget!!
We said okay, fine.
So here we are…
India Build 2009!
Rick our first aider,
Was the first to need stitches…
Then there’s Chantel,
With her bites and itches!
Michael had a problem,
To do what he had to do…
He ended up using tea #3,
To go number 2…
Melissa had an Indian dream,
Coconuts she did adore.
Next thing you know she’s sick,
So watch what you wish for!
Taking turns running to the loo,
Penny and Mary did go.
And all I can say…
Is “E – I – E – I - O!!”
All good, All the time,
Says Radio Channel M!
Keeping quiet at Amma’s
Is going to be a real challenge for them!
As the official team photographer,
Although, not paid.
Pasquale ended up..
As the Grassis’ personal Nursemaid!
And what will Nat do?
With her money all spent...
The only gift she can give to her new boyfriend...
Is Ce-Ment! Ce-Ment!!
Then there's Kevin and Steve's musical talent...
That makes us admire them.
That was until...
Dave came knocking at 2 am!
Lastly, there's Karen and Jamu,
Each have a liquid they prefer...
Jamu's is vodka and Limca,
And Karen's is Hand San-i-tizer!
Tim... You're a true leader...
One of the best we've met.
Thank you for making India 2009,
A build we'll never forget!!
Final Ceremony
On our last days, we only worked until noon... but before we left, the family that we were building one of the houses with, took us to where they were currently living. It's funny about language barriers...they were trying to say that this is the house that they rent, but it first came out like "winter house" and then like "rental house"... Their family of four will be much happier with their four room house that they actually own...
When we arrived at the build site, some of the local women pulled us into their house so that they could give us silver rings, gold necklaces, bangles and a bindi. (forehead decorations) It’s pretty amazing when people who have so little, give you gifts. To refuse would be insulting, so you humbly accept.
Just a side note about bangles here in India. They only come in small size and I must have the largest hands in all of India. We went around to at least 10 stores and in each one, it’s like I’m the ugly step sister trying to squeeze my foot into the glass slipper. Many of the bangles are made of glass so they would occasionally break while the shopkeepers were trying to squeeze them on me… Finally, one shopkeeper squeezed and contorted my hand so much that he got two of them on. I then felt obligated to buy some from him. So once I get home, Penny and I tried to put some more on my wrist and they all ended up breaking and flying off. I even cut myself on the breaking glass so that my hand was dripping blood. So you can imagine my delight when we arrive at the village and they insist on giving me bangles… Through clenched teeth, with my cut hand, I let them put two of the non-glass ones on…I think that’s called “public relations”
Next, our entire team and the locals formed a procession to walk through the town. It was led by local Musicians. (Tim, remind me what they were playing?)
Old house...
New house... (once it gets a roof on it)
So back home we went to get "gussied up" for the big party....But getting dressed for the final ceremony took more effort than we thought. Saris have a lot of material in them...It's kind of like putting a kids bike together at Christmas...you're done but you still have all these spare parts left and you don't know where they go?? We ended up calling down to reception and see if there was anyone who could help us dress. (who knew there were so many pins to put in??)
Team Canada women going out on the town!!
While some of the guys wore a lungi. (lungis are a sheet of material that guys wear that they fold in half and tuck in their waist)
When we arrived at the build site, some of the local women pulled us into their house so that they could give us silver rings, gold necklaces, bangles and a bindi. (forehead decorations) It’s pretty amazing when people who have so little, give you gifts. To refuse would be insulting, so you humbly accept.
Just a side note about bangles here in India. They only come in small size and I must have the largest hands in all of India. We went around to at least 10 stores and in each one, it’s like I’m the ugly step sister trying to squeeze my foot into the glass slipper. Many of the bangles are made of glass so they would occasionally break while the shopkeepers were trying to squeeze them on me… Finally, one shopkeeper squeezed and contorted my hand so much that he got two of them on. I then felt obligated to buy some from him. So once I get home, Penny and I tried to put some more on my wrist and they all ended up breaking and flying off. I even cut myself on the breaking glass so that my hand was dripping blood. So you can imagine my delight when we arrive at the village and they insist on giving me bangles… Through clenched teeth, with my cut hand, I let them put two of the non-glass ones on…I think that’s called “public relations”
Next, our entire team and the locals formed a procession to walk through the town. It was led by local Musicians. (Tim, remind me what they were playing?)
Here's some pictures from the ceremony...
Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Friends come build a house with me
No sad faces anymore...
Building Homes and Building Hope...
I feel like I'm knockin on heaven's door...
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Week Two Build Photos...
Michael and some of the local boys...
Tim and Nat....
On the bus again...
Girls going shopping...
Hanging at Lyn's store... (father and son are so cute!)
Nat on the wall...
The homeowners mixing the cement...
Having some chai with the locals...
This is how we empty the sand out of the cart...
Hanging at the watering hole... (kind of like the water cooler)
This water is dang heavy!! (smile is forced for photo only)
The walls are going up...
Mary and Nat lugging the rocks...
Tim and Pasquale working on the foundation wall...
Tim and Nat....
On the bus again...
Girls going shopping...
Hanging at Lyn's store... (father and son are so cute!)
Nat on the wall...
The homeowners mixing the cement...
Having some chai with the locals...
This is how we empty the sand out of the cart...
Hanging at the watering hole... (kind of like the water cooler)
This water is dang heavy!! (smile is forced for photo only)
The walls are going up...
Mary and Nat lugging the rocks...
Tim and Pasquale working on the foundation wall...
We interupt this blog to bring you a special Update...
I will continue updating the Habitat Build Blog ... but here's a new link with up to date info on our Ashram adventures...
http://www.michelleandmichelleattheashram.blogspot.com/
Michelle
http://www.michelleandmichelleattheashram.blogspot.com/
Michelle
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Holy Cow...
Weird experience of the day…. 
and the guy gives them a whack…I can barely parallel park my car so you can imagine how good I am at steering cows… We ended up going into the back field where the men were digging up the dirt. It was a hot, heavy job to do (and one of the men was about 65 years old). I wanted to pitch in to help but the men wouldn’t hear of it…(some people here are already in shock that the females on our team are working on the build!) So I sat up on the cart for 45 minutes while they loaded up. Although it was 30 degrees plus, it wouldn’t have been so bad, except that one of the cows had just taken a pooh and my knee was about 6 inches from it's dirty butt. And to quote a Sheryl Crow song…” where there’s shit, there’s flies”. I bet she wasn’t staring at a cows behind when she wrote that…. So how was your day?
To fill in the foundation of the house, we get dirt delivered by a cart being pulled by cows...I was trying to get my picture taken at the side of it and next thing you know, I’m sitting in the driver's seat...
and the guy gives them a whack…I can barely parallel park my car so you can imagine how good I am at steering cows… We ended up going into the back field where the men were digging up the dirt. It was a hot, heavy job to do (and one of the men was about 65 years old). I wanted to pitch in to help but the men wouldn’t hear of it…(some people here are already in shock that the females on our team are working on the build!) So I sat up on the cart for 45 minutes while they loaded up. Although it was 30 degrees plus, it wouldn’t have been so bad, except that one of the cows had just taken a pooh and my knee was about 6 inches from it's dirty butt. And to quote a Sheryl Crow song…” where there’s shit, there’s flies”. I bet she wasn’t staring at a cows behind when she wrote that…. So how was your day?Cultural Activities...
After building for the first week, we took a break and went off to check out an elephant reserve... We got to ride and wash the elephants. There were also some playful young ones that were goofing around with us... Check out the pics...
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