Time for a Change
Back to the land of internet connectivity (AKA Dehradun). In case you haven’t figured it out yet, when I don’t post any updates for awhile, it means I’m out in the mountains where I can’t “get connected”. This past trip was my third one out to Mayali since I started this project back in the beginning of January (where does the time go?) and I have to say that I’m starting to get used to life out there. Coming back here to Dehradun is nice because all the services/amenities I want are available here, but otherwise I’m starting to think I’d rather spend my time out in the mountains. Basically, there are less people out there, the environment is nicer (hard to beat being in the Himalaya) and while life is still crazy and chaotic (it is India still), it’s not quite so wild and diverse as down here on the plains, and that makes it a little easier to deal with (and become accustomed to). I’ll try to elaborate on this more later…
Anyway, as the title states, the next few days mark a change in my current pattern of life. First off – weather. As I wrote in the last entry, the weather here in Dehradun was pretty gross – really hot and somewhat humid. Going back to the mountains was much nicer, but even there it got pretty warm some days down in the valleys. I brought one fleece with me, but only pulled it out once. We’ll see what the summer holds for me, I was thinking that being in the mountains would be substantially cooler than down on the plains, but current signs aren’t quite so promising as I would have hoped (though even 35 is better than the 40 or 45 I might get here). However, about a week ago something happened and the warm weather disappeared and was replaced with more comfortable, cool temperatures, and most surprisingly, water falling from the sky! It’s been a long time since I’ve had any rain, in the 5 months I’ve been here in India I could count the number of days with precipitation on one hand, and so it has been quite a change seeing water everywhere. I’m not complaining, I actually like it because it cools off the air, removes all the dust, smoke and haze as well (turning the beautiful views crystal clear, quite a treat), and wets down the ground so the roads/paths aren’t so dusty and slippery. I haven’t been caught out in it yet so there hasn’t really been a downside. However, when I arrived back here in Dehradun this evening (after 9 hours on a bus – direct from Mayali) I barely had time to grab a rickshaw before the heavens opened and I experienced a full-blow downpour/thunderstorm/hailstorm. That’s right, there was definitely hail there, so in typical Indian fashion, everything is possible here. The fact it was 30+ two weeks ago apparently doesn’t stop the hail now. I thought I had Indian weather pegged (whatever happened yesterday will happen today, 99.9% guaranteed)m but it seems I might have to re-evaluate that. I might also have to pull out my raincoat (for the first time) – though with all that water coming down even my nice new one doesn’t seem like it would keep me dry for that long. Watching the rain come down (and seeing the rivers/floods running down the roads, fields and basically everywhere) reminded me of my experiences with the Indian monsoon 10 years, and has got me started thinking about what it’s going to be like this time. Compared to most other people, I think I like rain more than most, but I have a feeling that it’s still going to be too much for me. We’ll see, and no matter what I think now, I’m sure India will surprise me when the time comes.
The other big event coming up is my trip to Thailand. I’m leaving Delhi on the 17th at the wonderful time of 12:30am – almost all international flights arrive/depart from the city at ridiculous hours of the night/morning for some unknown reason – and arrive in Bangkok to start the day. I picked up a copy of the Lonely Planet guide to Thailand and have read through most of it, and I’ve got to say that even though I was looking forward to my trip before, I’m 3000x more excited about it now. My idea of Bangkok has changed from a crazy, wild, over-commercialized megalopolis (which it is) to a fascinating example of diversity and new ideas & sights, but most importantly, my “holiday on the tropical beaches” has taken shape in the form of a 2-3 day diving trip to the Siliman Islands, a cluster of islands off the west coast of southern Thailand that are “world famous for scuba diving on coral reefs”, spending some time around Krabi province (fascinating sea cliffs, caves, world famous rock climbing, sea kayaking, mangrove swamps and basically anything you could want) and finally a stay on some small islands further south that are apparently relatively undeveloped, stereotypical “tropical paradise islands” and home to a community of sea-gypsies (I’ve read about in National Geographic). Plus, I’ve got someone to orient me and show me around Bangkok (an old friend of my dad’s, who has lived in Thailand for a long time and seems like a cool person), so it’s looking really good. I just hope I can tear myself away from the fun for long enough to make sure I get my new Indian visa – the major reason for my trip in the first place. However, I just found out that the workshop that had been scheduled for April 1st has been moved to the 4th, so I’m contemplating trying to get my return flight switched to a few days later. I’ll try to send out some updates from Thailand, but I have a feeling (and based on previous experience) that I may be too busy having fun to actually find time to sit down at a computer and write about it all… Don’t worry though, I’ll certainly take tons of photos!
There’s one other big thing coming up – tomorrow is Holi! Holi is one of the major Hindu festivals, and since it marks the beginning of the Hindu calendar year and the coming of spring/summer, it’s a big deal. In addition to all the sweets and visiting relatives (that are typical of all Indian festivals) Holi has the additional tradition of throwing/squirting coloured dyes/water at everything/everyone around you, and so the whole country basically goes crazy for two days and everyone becomes a walking rainbow. Everything is fair game on Holi, and so it’s inadvisable to travel during the festival, hence I’ve come back to Dehradun a full 3 days before I have leave for Thailand (while the rest of my team is staying in Mayali until April). I remember Holi being one of the most fun days of the year 10 years ago – it’s a kid’s dream come true – and so I’m looking forward to the holiday, but at the same time am prepping myself for disappointment because this time I don’t really have anyone to celebrate with. I’ll likely spend time with Rupi, but she doesn’t strike me as the type who would really get into the “fun” of Holi. Oh well, I’m not going to worry about it, just let it happen and see what results – this is India after all…
Happy Holi!
This is the online home of one Shane Warner, my place to attempt to tell some of my stories, as well as just spout off whatever comes to mind.
