My first visit to India with Bri was one of my favourite trips. I knew the adventures of Miss Carrie x2 could never be matched, so I mentally prepared for some disappointment. But wow, Kolkata is a gem. Dare I say it could be my favourite city? It has everything I love- culture, history, beautiful green spaces, bridges(!), a dash of craziness and friendly people. I love Indians. They always offer a smile and ask “What is your good name?” I love their accent, their easygoing nature, their confusing head wobble- does it mean yes, no, maybe, or something else entirely? Kolkata was the perfect place to begin my Indian journey because it gave me the confidence I needed to tackle this sometimes trying country. If it had not been for Kolkata I may have abandoned India after visiting Chennai...
Chennai is my real life experience of hell on earth. Monsoon season is over so the city is under only 8 inches of water. It is hot, humid (understatement), polluted, destitute, and the mosquito’s are unbearable. People walk the streets in flip-flops seemingly unaffected through shin deep stagnant brown water. OK, I can do this too. But when I almost step on a drown mouse my composure crumbles. I retreat to my hotel- where I spend the next 24 hrs in semi-consciousness. Was it a parasite in the water flooding the streets? A virus in the tap water? Bacteria in the street food? Or maybe a mosquito transmitted disease? I think Chennai damaged me physically and mentally.
I ditch Chennai and catch a train to Tirupathi where I visit Venkateshwara Temple. This is the most visited pilgrimage site in India which translates to more people than Mecca, Rome or anywhere else in the world. Pics are not allowed and it is impossible to comprehend crowds like this. I was not sure if I should laugh or cry as I moved with the thousands of people to the temple. A man near me fell as we were on the stairs and without his body to fill the space the crowd started to list to the side. It was very scary as people started to topple over but we got our bearings and the crowd stabilized again. All this in hopes Vishnu will grant us a wish.
It may sound like India is a traumatizing experience; no it is more like an awakening. India is full of life and loss. Beauty and horror. Abundance and scarcity. It is the best possible reminder to appreciate my life and the people in it. Thinking of home but happily abroad,
Carrie
Kolkata
Tirupathi
This is recited daily at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Kolkata. I wanted to share it with you.
Litany of Reconciliation
The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class
Father, forgive
The covetous desires of men and nations to posses what is not their own
Father, forgive
The greed which exploits the labours of men, and lays waste the earth
Father, forgive
Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others
Father, forgive
Our indifference to the plight of the homeless and the refugee
Father, forgive
The lust which uses for ignoble ends the bodies of men and women
Father, forgive
The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves, and not in God
Father, forgive
Nice pictures! I hope you recover quickly from Chennai experience.
ReplyDelete