India 2011

Sorry for late posting-ness. After a safe landing and a legging it though the airport that would rival Jason Bourne's abilities we all got our connections to various areas of Briton! So we are all back safe and well, to my knowledge, the Irish haven't responded to the text messageding yet, assuming there not dead(touch wood).

Left Lucknow and OM-ness, (I wish we had more time so we could spend it there, was a truly amazing place full of awesome people) and onto Varanasi. The over night train was really cool, wish our sleeper train were like these. We were in the lowest air con class, 2C to be precise. They are kinda hard to explain, basically they are 6 beds the middle one folds up to make a bed and down to make a seat, and you share the cabin with who ever else arrives. SO on this leg of the trip it was a mum, small child(with the snoring ability that rivals my grandfathers - that is a skill, believe me) and the granny. We had the upper bunks, was so much fun, they must have thought we were nuts, were a tad excited by the train. Arrived in Varanasi and dropped our stuff off and then onto ... you have guess it - more temples!! Varanasi is known as the holy city by Buddhists and the holist place in the world for Hindu's and is the oldest city in India. This time because we were so much further east a much bigger Buddhist influence was present. Saw were Buddha found enlightenment and then we went to the river Ganges( we dubbed it river of death). The river is of huge religious importance, they have this massive cremation site there which runs pretty much 24 hours, they burn hundreds of bodies a day. Hindu believe its a privilege to die in Varanasi and believe by being cremated there you end your cycle of reincarnation. Not all the body gets burned so they through the rest into the river with the ash. People wash, drink , bath in this river.... medics having heart attack at possibilities of infection, to be honest I was too, I can't belive they we drinking there dead relatives...mmmmm tastes like granny! Every night they have this massive ceremony to celebrate the dead - i think, my Hindi isn't great. We had a wee boat trip in the eve to watch this and see the cremation site, with stuff bobbing in the water. Jud's bag got wet - she totally freaked, we now call it the bag of death! Oh one cool thing they do is release candles onto the river at night, again related to the dead, but looks really pretty ! Me and Andrew took a boat ride in the morning while the girls worked, to see all the Ghats along the river, then we headed to the station for the next not so wee leg of the trip.

So then we had a our 27 hours train from Varinassi to Mumbai, upon where we met a new friend, who I like to call Winky. Winky was the Indian man who was sleeping on the top bunk of our compartment and had a slight staring problem to say the least, felt like I was in big brother. It was really hard to read him as one of his eyes was blind the other had half a cataract and to polish it off they were squinty, so they were all over the show. I really enjoyed the train but was nice to get off it! Was a tad let down when we arrived in mumbai as Sof's had bigged up how awesome the train station would be...... she was utterly wrong, bit of an in joke now!

Mumbai - what a city, dubbed it the upper lip sweat city, very humit but the coast. It is lovely place but also kinda weird, you fell like you could be anywhere. Its very western, doesn't feel Indian at all, at points you think your in France or Cuba and then it also has a New York sky line over the sea-very strange but lovely city. After finding our accommodation headed for a spot of lunch and walk along promenade - so not like the India we had experienced to date. After watching sun set we headed to the gate of India - a massive gate built for George the 5th I think or was it Henry ??? Got on a boat tour that all the locals were getting on - gave you a wee tour of the bay! Spent the rest of the eve bartering so wee gifts with the rest of our rupees, then off to bed. Headed for the airport in the morning, on our way we passed Dharavi which is the worlds biggest slum. It has over a million people living in it, if we had more time we would have went, think we all wished we had more time, know one particularly wanted to leave India. After a joyous flight (girls working (revision, incase your getting the wrong idea!)for most of it). We all had pretty quick turn around so soon as our bags came we parted ways(tear in the eye!!). I got the sleeper train (rubbish compared to the Indian ones, the 2 screaming babies didn't help either!) straight to aberdeen and was back here for 7.30.

So that was India in a nut shell, thank you for reading it, those who have no life, oh I mean ......
Well its over and out from us,
lots of Indian love
Andrew, Sophie, Judith (Jewdog) and Ciara

Where to start .......... it has been just amazing being here, we all feel so blessed to have been able to come here - I know I’ve gone all “cheesy Christian” with my jargon but it has !!

When we got to Lucknow it was really late and there were so many people everywhere -seems to be a common theme in India, even in the country, people are just everywhere, not like bonny old Scotland ! As usual people trying to get stuff form us, or offer us things we didn’t want, Judith was very bad at saying no, oh the joys of being white. We didn't know where to meet the OM crew only that they would pick us up at station, Andrew kept declining offer for taxi's and Tuttut's and told this one guy maybe about 3 times to go away, that we didn't need a lift... turned out to be the OM guy, we all felt a tad guilty, he was lovely about it .... these Christians there all the same!!

We arrived late at night, but all a bit excited to be around other Jesus freaks. Our first morning here we were taken to one of there schools outside the city in a rural setting, looked quite funny this big blue building that could be seen from afar with little shanty type villages dotted around. We visited every class and they asked us to do a song in each, t’was a tad random and awkard, as we turned up and just sang with the kids, but they seemed to enjoy it. Me and Sofie did praise ye the Lord ...not going to lie we did regret it, after 10-12 classes of doing the song twice, our thighs were felling the burn of the continual up and downs of the song!

We have spent quite a bit of time here actually one base getting to know the brothers (there terminology not mine -don’t get too freaked out with the jesus chat) which has been so lovely, hearing there stories, getting to know them. One night we went to a home group in the getto of Lucknow, wasn't far off a slum but it was bricks and mortar. Just crazy, there was 30 of us in a house for 3, people everywhere, including kids who heard the singing from the street and joined in. So the evening consisted of songs -in Hindi of course, a 'message' by us and prayer. We asked if anyone would like us to pray for them and it was amazing how many people came for prayer for healing. The faith that people have if so inspiring, how there first protocol is to pray for healing, to continually pray till something happens, where we just pop on down to the docs and then if still feeling a tad off with our antibiotics in hand and then we limply ask that God would make us better, put us to shame, well me anyway. These woman who asked for prayer were so full of gratitude, there whole evening was just so humbling.

We had Indian church experience yesterday. Here on base they have a church that meets weekly, they usually get 70 kids every week form the neighboring slums, more kids than adults. These kids then tell there parents, then they start coming along. We were asked again to sing for the church -totally random - and then we went to help with the kids club. We did some more songs with actions, then told a bible story - David and the lions den - then off out side for tig. Playing tig outside in heat in over 40 degress centigrade wasn't such a good idea but it was fun all the same. That evening we were invited to attended at graduation ceremony for Lucknow theological collage with Brenda (our South African friend on the base - amazing retired nurse who has been here for several months), it was something else. The speakers really didn’t need a microphone, the decibels that they could reach were impressive, all in all the 4 and a bit hours ceremony that included 5 preachers was an experience !!

Lucknow is famous for its Tandori chicken so after we went to sample it -so good. Me and Hatch have been collecting recipes while we have been here- because we are sad like that - so thinking of having a big curry/OM night when were back...all invited of course!!

Today we were in the slums, we went with Brenda to do medical-ness (have become an honorary medic on the trip), we saw many a thing to say the least! At one point this older lady had been sitting don and was complaining of pain, her tummy seemed very distended, so got her to stand up and realised we were mistaken on what we thought it was...turned out she was just very well endowed and lets say very thing goes south in life...was very comical when we realised! Medics were in there element -I was drug administrator!

There has been so much more but I won’t bore you with it now!! All in all I think I can safely say that we all have been put out of our comfort zones while being here, from them asking us to do random songs at meetings or to preach at something or prayer for the sick we met (sofie in her element at this-I’m sure you can imagine!)

We are heading off this eve at 11 to catch the train to Varinassie, our first over night adventure on the Indian trains, praying that we wont have Delhi belly -you don’t want to know about the toilets on these bad boys !!

Hope you are all well,
all our Indian love.
Andrew, Ciara, Judith and Sophie

We are a few days behind (sorry) so here is our catch up!!

Lassi's ........amazing, we are all a tad addicted to them. They are like a yogart drink thing - dont think minky actimel but more like smoothie, they come in these awesome wee clay jars that they just throw away after using, we kept ours - resuse reduce recycle (have been taught well, pluss free gift for mothers !!).

Left Jaipur and hit the road(Jack) on our way to Agra. En route we stopped off at this monkey temple, which as you guessed ....had monkeys !! Was cool but also quite random, Judith discovered a fear of mother monkeys and we saw quite alot naked people bathing. Basically just alot of monkeys every where. For you youtube fans our theme tune while there was "baby monkey, baby monkey, riding on a pig, baby monkey, baby monkey". Our driver had unfortunately been taught the incorrect word for peanuts and happened to call them a certain area of a mans body, we didnt have the heart to correct his misforunate pronunciation ! After jumping back in Sureshs faithful car we headed to this crazy well of steps, there were alot, will try and put pics up soon. (I know I keep saying this but indian comps dont like our usb!!) Bak into car and onto Agra.

Arrived in Agra, Jewdog still feeling dodge, she managed to drag Andrew to his version of hell......yes McDonalds, which was round the corner. We wouldn't have went if it wasn't for our friend Andre(think I may have mentioned him before) who we keep bumping into, being from the north American continet loves McD's. He told us that Indians have there own burgers etc, so we went for s McSpicy (oringinal name!), it was an experiance and even Andrew deep down is glad we went to expericane this crazyness.

The next moring in Agra, went to the Taj Mahal at sun rise - 5.30 start was tough espcially for Andrew and Judith but well worth the lack of sleep. Words cannot describe - sound cheesy but it was awesome. I personally loved the cheesy love songs that they had playing from, invisable speakers, Andrews fav was the titianic theme tune - naturally !! Found Anderw a wife at the Taj - this crazy just over middle aged woman who had andrew pose for love shots with her infrount of The Taj Mahal like her toy boy....so funny!! So Andrew and Juith both sorted on the marriage front in India now, Im working on Sof's!! Heres a cheeky wee fact about the Taj that I never knew is that the guy who built it was going to build and identical one in black across the river and then have a bridge joining them. We also went to the fort later that day in Agra, had a wee guide take us round, so many intersting places .... a lot of forts, they are nearly as keen on them as us scots are on castles, but not quite.

Left Agra and Suresh who we have become fond of despiite his obbesion with chicken and his slight OCDness when it coms to constantly repeating time tables. We got dropped off at the trains station to head for Lucknow (where we are now). Man what an expericane, so we were 3 hours early and had to wait at platfrorm while people stared are you - only white in the whole station.(The stating we get here all the time have to remind Andrew its not for his looks. Its quite funny when people want you to hold their child so they can take a picture,or your half forced to be in their family shots of some site we are visiting. Judith loves it, have to remind her that she is not a celeb and they are not paparazzi!) This one begger woman sat right in front of us as we played cards and asked for money, it was so had to know what to do, once you give to one you have to give to all. We are all trying to make sense of the level of need and how we can love or display Gods love to each indivual in the midst of it all. How can we serve them selflessly? How can we practise what Jesus teaches of the poor practically while we are here? Its tough but he is faithful.
We had a very surreal experiance when a group of about 20 Indian men stood in a circle around us and didn't speak for a while, was rather awkward while we waited for the train(whcih runs when it likes, not in accordance to time tables). Managed to catch the 5 hour train to Lucknow, (toilets on them are a whole other story). Andrew fell in love with the man he was sitting next too, found his new idol-beside Jesus of course - an Indian Doctor who said he could do his elective with him, the excitement on his face was like a child at christmas. SOfie and Judith a tad jelous I think!

Along our travels we have met many other backpackers, from around the globe. On various occasions have stayed up to obscene hours discussing all manner of things, from light hearted banter to some deep chat. |We had one night we stayed up till 4 chatting about fears and what our greatest fear was ..never though about this before - good question to ask yourself. Met two guys that night, one a guy from Chille called Jain and a guy from london caled James (said we would mention them !!) who was very into the deep questions on life -twas good chat! Found that there a quite a lot of people who travel 'riding solo', seems a bit lonely to me but then again you dont have an Andrew who pees n the seat or Judiths mosituising obession - so can see the up side. All in all loved meeting other people along the way and sharing this with them. Arrived safe and sound and eventually found the lovely man who was picking us up. Now here safe and sound at the OM (operation mobilisation) base in Lucknow. Next blog we will tell you all about our amazin time we are having here, so lovely to be with other believers!

Over and out,
all our Indian love,
Sophie, Ciara, Andrew and Judith

So the place we were heading that I couldn't remember the name of was Pushkar! The journey there was the bummyist and bumpyist we have had so far....lets just say we were in pain in that region for a while.
Pushkar - not the most impresive place we have see but has its own wee charm about it. The hotel was just random, at the end of this dusty lane and it was just ...there. The decor totally from the 70's with these crazy big weird glassish lamp furnishing, dangleing from every possible place. On the up side it did have a "pool" more like a sess pit but still we went for a sneaky we dipin the
delightful but a tad dirty pond. So while me and Sofie pretended to be dragons in the pool, Andrew 'sunbathed' and Judith did her first offical pool jumping -what an achievement in life...she has always been a late bloomer!
After more role play in the pool we headed into town which was deserted due to cricket match final(Indian won, just to let you know - for all the girls who we know will not know about these results), alot for partying on the Indian front due to result, much like prevoiuys victory that the cricket team have had since we arrived. The partying did sound more like we were in a war zone, they sure do it differently here!

Pushlkar is a holy town and has the only Brahma temple in the world there. It also has 'holy waters' a slightly minky lake where we visited. So when we arrived at this ' holy ground' we where separated, made shoeless and taken to be "blessed" in the disease ridden waters. After having to repeat some form a blessing (made my guy say the lords prayer before hand for kicks) while throwing stuff into the lake and then getting a Bindi. We were all promised that our futures would bare much friut and we would return with a spouse and many children, at the thought of which Judith was happily scammed into giving money (apparent threat on family if money not given), though this did caused much distress later on ! Sofie also fell for trap but me and Andrew are just too tight. After many other eventful occasion we went on our way to Jaipuir.

The pink city or the Amber city or just plaion Jaipur is out current location. We arrived yesterday and went to a wee textile place where we got some things made for us - I got some funky, crazy trousers made that are actually log enough and dont look like shorts when I try them on!

Last night we were amazingly invited to Seresh's gurus sisters(when you follow the same guru you become family) house for dinner - what an experience!! So we drove into the slum area of Jaipur and then walked along some back alleys on the dark to the gurus sisters home. Not going to lie if we had been abducted no one would have ever known!! Luckily we were not, we had a ball !
It was a tiny little house which substituted as a wee seamstresses shop by day. It has 2 rooms -one a kitchen and a mini courtyard that they were joined to. After drinkling chai the woman ushered us into the only real room they have and dressed us in there Sari's. They couldn't speak a word of English but this didnt matter, we managed to have a good laugh with them thought mime and extravagant movements. Food was amazing, they made the Chapati's in front of us on the fire made of cow poo, yes we eat poo chapati's, Andrew nealry had heart attack at possibility of infections. All in all lovely evening, beautiful hospitality -what an experience's.

Went to another fort today. Fully of tourists -feel like I'm turning in to my father, complaining about tourists when I am one !! There was bus lads of geriatrics which looked like they should have been driven too a assisted housing complex not this hilly fort. One woman looked as though she was going to have a hear attack then and there, while she was climbing the hill. Our guy was so touchy feely, it was unbelievable, we ended up standing at least 2 metres way from him at all times.

Heading out for lassies (not scotish woman, but weird Indian style smiothie things) now and then tomorrw to the moneky temple before onto Agra to see the Taj and the likes ... as you do !! So alltogther and good few days of lots ofcultural expericances and memories, still all trying to understand how different all of our lives are in this crazy world we live in.

All our Indian love,
Ciara,Sophie, Jewdog and Andrew

Jewdog and the Hatchinatoir would like me to ,mention that they have spent the afternoon slogging for thee exam!!

Evening one and all, hope this finds you fine and well and truely danday !!

We are 5 and a half hours ahead here, no idea where the half came from, the time guy here may be a touch dis-lecx-ik, (no judgement of so !!), we all know the bestest people in the world are !!

So where/what/who has happened .... well we left Jasilmir (after another rat incident involving andrew and his girl/other worldynoice which accompany's these experiances) and headed east onto Jodppur. This is other wose known as the blue city - houses are all painted blue and built from sandstone. Very beatiuful and if your a sad art geek like myself you will know that orange(sandstone) and blue are contrasting complimentories (therefore set each other off beatiufully - got probelms I know!!).Oh and had a wee punchared tired en route but no real prob.

When we arrived in Jodpur, dropped our stuff of at our new home for the next 2 nights. Seams that we are in the cheap rooms- very top of building, right beside"resturanunt" and inbtween there and the staff shower is our rooms - yes we have made it when it comes to the accomodation... I know your all jelous ! Anyhoo onto the spice markets we headed, spent most of our time in this one shop whee the shop owener was the touchest man alive, he seemed to be rather partical to my self even with my best efforts to repell, these Indian men .... the most he got was a photo (which he insisted in having)... awkard, on the plus side managed to get 2 free ice teas, one to try in shop and the other to take with us, so really worth the photo! Got a few cheeky we purchase (Steve Moore be hopefull.. its all I'm going to say). Oh and we met this Canadain guy there called Andre - tradional Canadain name insace you didn't know - was getting the Steve Harris vivbe from him minus the excessive bracelettes he wore. He had just been to MacDonalds ... tupical north american - no offence ! Judith wanting to go....enough said!

After here we headed for some dinner at a place called on the rocks, pretty nice and reasonable price wise, sign said couples only dancing .. got to love Indian signage. Though there were army guys everywhere, including waitering, not quite sure why - maybe Jodpurs mafia's hang out...one can only hope! Have a slight conneffsion to make...as were all fruiends here feel I can share this with you, honesty is the best policy and all that jazz! So every place we stay in has slightly different ...standards shall we say. Some have toliet roll, soap and some form of towel like thing but others eaither have one or two or none, this current place has none. Happened to notice that this resturant had a few spare rolls on top of the girls toilets, so and the Hatchenator may or may not have put a few down our trousers and made a quick exit. Back to our rooftop rooms hwere cards are becoming a slight compition area amoung the group, of course there in no real compition when Judiths in the game and Andew is a sore sore sore looser but our nightly rightual all the same !

Got up today , spot of breaky...."cornflakes and milk", still smell of curry and scrambled eggs = cut up omlette, literlly cut up omlette. Headed onto the most ornate fort I have ever seen -words cannot describe, just amazing. Jewdog stayed behind, had another we tummy upset but was all good for our afternoon of extragance. We decided once a week to do something extraagant if we can, just for the banter... why not !
So today we went to this posh hotel to use the pool, felt like paradice. Judith found her wedding venue, nearly all the details sorted now! So we thought we would try and top our tans, not hat there is much - to hot to cathc anything. Tan is not a word you can apply to dear Andrew the ging but he is gaining more freckles. Had a wee it of tea here too, first meal we have finnished since we arrived. Swimming was so lovely its been in the 40's for a most of he time we have been here and today was espically hot.

Other small things that have happended:
-Seresh our driver asked if we would set him up a facebook account - tad weird - Sophie helped the dear man accomplish task !
-Started to keep tally of how many times Micheal Stewart has been mention on sepaerate occaiosn since beginnig of trip, current total is 17!!
-quotes "India...... anything is possiible" "these shoes make your legs... more beautiful" "let me help you waste money"

Off to .... cannot belive it, the name has just gone out of my head, its further east anyway, will update you from here!
That is all for now, sorry for rambling!!

All your Indian love
Ciara, Andew, Judith and the Hatchenator

p.s appogise for spelling mistakes, this comp has no spell cheak ... yes that is my excuse !!!

We are in the golden city, this place is amazing. Spent the morning looking at temples, one had 6666 gods, and I thought the trinity was confusing enough. Was an amazing place, we stopped at an amazing we craft place as we left the fort gates and me (ciara) and sophie got a few we things.We have banned Judith from buying anything for a week... its for the best really. The man who owned the shop was something else to say the least. Not going to lie, cannot for the life of me remember his name but again Judith was in there on the husband front, think maybe we could get Lizzi Fleming sorted while were out here too! he was a genuine catch, he had justin bieber, shakira, akon (smack that ofcourse) and bob dylan on the one mobile phone. he had an amzing voice (he sang almost as good as justin does), he's into religion (possibly not Christianity but beggars cant be choosers). he was also very interesting and good to chat to, he asked wonderfully insightful questions such as, (directed at Judith) was (no joke) how many times a day do you go to the toilet? do you take magic mushrooms? And if that had not got you panting for him he was not to hard on the eyes at all, if you know what i mean ladies (wink, wink)(Andrew's description).

So went on a camel safari - amazing!! Left late yesterday afternoon on camel back into the desert and just chilled out on there backs, as you do !
Arrived at the top of a big sand dune where we watched the sun go down while talking to peter our swiss, ragging homosexual" (Andrew's input) friend, he was good crack, if not a tad strange but lovely all the same! Camels...what funny animals, they make the strangest tongue movements and noises!!
We headed back to camp where we had some dinner - those not much eaten ... yesterdays bowel problems still here... Judith missed the target on evacuation (Andrew's input again). After some horrific audience participation, where we had to dance round insencse sticks with a slightly scary Indian dancer while other forgers watched. Andrew looked like he was having an epileptic fit, we all wanted the ground to swallow us. We headed back out into the desert and slept under the stars in camp beds (a camel farted on Ciara's) - what an experience, woke up this morning to the sunrise...........felt like we were in a film. All in all a good 24 hours here in Jaisalmer. Leaving tomorrow morning earlyish for Jodpur.

Hope your all well, I apologises now for Andews inappropriate comments- but all truth !!
All our love,

Ciara, Andrew, Sophie and Jewdog

(p.s just to let you know Sophie and Judith working at the mo, and all is going well!!)

So a lot has happened since our last comment!!

We left Delhi and embarked on our adventure west, day 1 on this we had a 12 our journey mostly spent in the car, stayed over night in Bikaner. A luxury place in comparison to the place the night before!! Set off early ion the morning and was going to go to the rat temple but Andrew too much of a woman blouse!! So we went to the fort, an amazing place lived in by kings and queens, had a good old jolly round there!
Stopped off at this craft place, also amazing, where these woman in remote villages made pretty much anything to do with textiles, bed sheets to scarfs to sari's - Judith got one, is now looking rather Indian, bar the white skin !! Bought a few items, some may be gifts if your nice to us all when we get back , other wise I think we would quite happily keep them. May have found Judith an Indian husband, boys a craft place lobing her.( as I was writing this line she said "....which one.." point made !!)

Back on the road again for another 6/7ish hours till we arrived in Jaisalmer, were I'm typing this now! Staying in the quaint we place run by boys. literally boys, 10, 15 and one guy who looks about 11 but is 22, they do a good job but firmly feel they should be in school - its the teacher within me !!

We are 150 kilometers from Pakistan at the moment so very close,and man is it hot- in the desert, (think star wars or sex and city two back drops). Last night was the hottest night we have had - not such sleep on all accounts.
We all had a ruff night last night, a bit of Delhi belly to say the least, esp poor Andrew,we are supposed to be going to a Camel Safari this eve over night sleeping under the stars but the lack of toilets is a slight concern. Enough said on the jobbie front but prayers more than welcome.

Other stuff thats happened we feel we should share -we the girls do anyway is that as previously mentioned Andrew and rats are not the best of friends shall we say! We stopped at the side of the road to buy some water and I saw a rat, happened to mention it, Andrew leaped out of his seat and made I notice I have never heard a young girl make never mind a fully grown "man" make, funny just cannot describe it!!

We are appreciating any texts on our Indian phone that we get that aren't trying to sell us wives, cars or some form of holiday, so keep them coming parentals, if anyone else want to send us inappropriate texts we will post our number at some point soon!!

All our love,
Ciara, Judith Sofie and Andrew

So we have arrived safe and sound!!! The sight, sounds and smells are amazing ........ so crazy, everything is just everywhere !!
We arrived early this morning and arrived at slightly dodgy (too say the least) accomodation (sophoe booked it!!), it is somthing else. Went for a wee nap, then forced our selves to get up, poped out for a wee curry for breaky - as you do ! Currently steeling the internet from a lovely and very helpful man in the tourist info shop. Finnally getting our route finalised, will keep you updated!
We are safe - mothers don't worry!!
Over and out, all our crazy India love,
Andrew, Judith, Sophie and Ciara

Dear all,
Thought I should try and post something to see if it works, so here we are !! Also if there was any keen beans probably mothers who are checking this and there isn't a post, they will think that were all dead even though we have left the country yet !
Well over and out, we will post a cheeky wee comment at the airport tomorrow !
xx