Exotic, Incredible India

India!!

I have had a hard time writing about India. I have sat down several times and tried to put my experiences into words. Until now, I have failed. But here’s another attempt.

India is a complicated land of contrasts. First it overwhelms you with color, noise, smells and the sheer number of people. Then it disgusts you with the crowds, filth, poverty and sadness. Finally it seduces you with culture and beauty. You revel in the beauty of the Taj Mahal and the beautiful shopping to be done, and then you cry over the beggers and filth.

I enjoyed India. However, I don’t want to go back. India was a wonderful experience that showed me how a large percentage of the world’s population live. I loved the culture, the shopping and the people we met. We visited so many wonderful places: The Taj Mahal in Agra, Varanasi (the Ganges river), Delhi, Khajaraso(sp?) and Jaipur. I spent my birthday at the Taj Mahal and then on a crowded, dirty train.

Robyn and I explored old ruins, temples and markets. We saw famous festivals and people bathing in the Ganges River. We watched two Bollywood movies (which we didn’t understand since it was in Hindi). We bought spices, saris, cashmere carpets and bangles. We rode an elephant, in a car, on a plane, in a rickshaw, and a train.

We experienced so much! Here are some pictures

Mom and Dad visit!

In January, my wonderful, amazing parents visited me. They truly are the best parents a girl could ask for! I worked on Wednesday, then headed up to Taoyuan to pick them up from the airport. I had never picked someone up from the airport before and it is a truly fun and exciting thing to do! I have been picked up from the airport and arrived at the airport with no one to meet me. Honestly, it is sooooo much better when someone you love is waiting for you!

So anyways, I picked them up and we just hugged for soooo long! Mom cried and Dad even got a little choked up! They were exhausted and so we headed straight to the hotel.

The next morning, Dad and I went to pick up the rental car, which was an experience. We had a tough time getting to the rental place. But we finally got there, picked up the car, picked up Mom from the airport and headed to Tainan. We went straight to my school, so that I could show them where I work and meet my co-teachers and a few students.

We spent our time in Tainan, visiting all of the sites, eating at yummy restaurants, showing Mom and Dad my life and meeting my friends. Mom and I got hair washes one day! It was very fun and showed them what my life currently looks like.

We then headed across the mountains to Taitung. The drive was SO beautiful and fun. We stayed at a very nice hot springs resort. You could actually fill the tub up with the mineral water, we (individually) had a nice soak! Jet lag officially caught up with Mom and she crashed for the afternoon/evening, while I watched Les Miserables (FINALLY!!!!!)

The next morning, we headed to Hualian on a long and windy road! We arrived there and immediately began exploring Taroko Gorge! It is so beautiful and very fun to walk around.

The next day, we headed to Taipei… This is where our fun adventures start. There is a road that goes around the coast from Hualien to Yilan, then to Taipei. Everyone I talked to, told me that the road had been closed earlier in the year, but that it was now open. We get almost to Yilan, when we are confronted with road blocks… Apparently the road was still closed due to mudslides. In my broken Chinese, I talked to the nice construction worker who showed me how to get to Taipei… OVER the mountains.

So we headed back to Hualien, through Taroko Gorge and over the mountains. It was terrifying and amazing. Sometimes, I honestly thought that we were going to die. However, we did get to see some AMAZING views. Props to my wonderful Daddy for getting us there and not being mad at me.

The next morning, we took the car back to AVIS and took the HSR back to Taipei. We had some yummy lunch and ice cream at Taipei 101 and then explored the top. We explored some more of Taipei and ate some yummy pizza at MaryJane’s!

The next morning (VERY EARLY) we headed back to the airport and they flew back to the good ol’ USA.

It was so wonderful having them here. It was nice to share my life with those who know me best, especially those who love me the most.

I then spent the next week sick in bed… before going to….. INDIA!