India + pictures and 1 video

We made it south, thankfully. It's like a different country down here. Not so run down, people don't bother us and they actually give us directions instead of try to sell us something. It's easier to get around because of that, despite a harrowing bus ride we took yesterday. It was like in the circus where you have 20 clowns coming out of the VW Beetle, except it was like cramming 40 of them it. People were hanging out of the doors and just when you think it's absolutely impossible to fit another in, somehow they stop and more people get on.

We were lucky enough to stay at the Marriott for a few nights which was like a different planet. I've never been so grateful for anything in my life. No mold, no cockroaches, no bargaining for a $5 room, air conditioning...It was so difficult to leave. Instead of feeling refreshed and ready to go again, it depressed us a little to have to go back to the budget world.

We have done a little sightseeing. Goa is very Portuguese influenced since the Portuguese just gave it back to India in 1961 after several hundred years. So lots of churches and Christianity, which is a bit strange to see at times. Even the public buses are called "The Infant Jesus Bus." I have to say, if there's one thing the Indians are, it's passionate. They go full on with everything, be it religion, bargaining, touting, driving. Whatever they believe is plastered everywhere and infiltrates every single area of their lives and environment.

As for the beaches, they are gorgeous, palm-tree lined, full of dogs and cows and the ubiquitous plastic rubbish. We aren't the types to just sunbathe and lay around doing nothing on the beach so when there isn't much else to do here we get a bit bored, like we are wasting time. We keep telling each other we need to learn how to relax because we have been going non-stop for 4 months so we deserve a little time to do nothing.

Anyway, for the long-awaited pictures:

Pictures and Video
Here are pictures from our time teaching in Dharamsala. The first picture is of our class on the last day. In this set is also pictures of a festival given before the Dalai Lama started his 3 days of teachings. We got to see some traditional dances and music. You will notice a picture of Gay pretending to puke out the window of the bus, ironically this was a foreshadow of things to come. Ten minutes later the real thing happened.

This set is from Agra and the home of the Taj Mahal. Some of these pics are also of the Agra Fort which is another popular site in the area.

Here are a couple shots of our relaxing beach hopping in Goa. The past few days was the festival of Ganesh so last night many families came down to the beach with their Ganesh statues in the back of small trucks, singing and clapping behind it. Fireworks and insanely loud firecrackers were going off all night. At the beach they do some rituals, make offerings, then send the statues off in the water.
We have been to 3 beaches so far, and on to a fourth tomorrow.

This is a video of the Tibetan dancing during the festival mentioned above. At the event were also Tibetan comedians (which of course we didn't understand), and school groups playing music and singing. It was absolutely packed with people so we couldn't get the best shots.

Moving on

Hi All,

We've completed our stint teaching English and our time in Dharamsala. We didn't really relax as much as planned because what started as a simple 1 hour class everyday then turned into 2 more 1 hour conversation classes plus tutoring sessions plus extra help we provided after class. I'm not complaining it was nice to be busy and helping out. In fact it was a privelage not only to teach English but to also get to know all the people. Plus our students were very grateful for whatever time we put in. In Buddhism teachers are second after parents in terms of the respect chain and we were always treated accordingly.

Thoughts on teaching
I have even gained even more awe for the work that regular teachers put in. It was hard enough planning what we were going to teach for our 1 hour class let alone having to plan for multiple classes. Gay and I also tried to give a test to our students which was a pretty funny experience. As much as we wanted them to not use their notebook for help and to not help their fellow classmates, they just couldn't help themselves. We even had a nun in the class, a very quite women of about 40, at one point I looked over and she was stealthy taking peaks at her notebook for answers. I couldn't believe it! a nun cheating! it was great. I called her name and she got very red in the face. Some of the younger monks were cheating too but they're notorious jokesters.

Dalia Lama teachings
The Dalia Lama is in town this week and has done 3 days of teachings here before going to Spain. We only went to a couple of the teachings and I could only understand a couple of the things he was saying. But we have been immersed in enough Mayahana Buddhism throughout our trip to understand some of the major points and even a joke about one of the deities being born in a lotus.

One thing is for sure, even if you don't understand all what is being said, you feel something special when you see him. So it's no surprise so many faithful followers have followed him out of Tibet and dangerously crossed the border into India to just be in the same place he is.

Next...
Today we leave this area and head out to Agra where we'll check out the Taj Mahal and then head further south and cruise around there for awhile. I think our batteries are recharged after staying in one place for a month. But I guess we'll see.

Jon