Liliana’s South East Asia Adventure

So some people were wondering when I was coming home? Well originally it was going to be the 25th of April but It’s changed. Long story short…. Having had a driver and spend more then I normally would on hotels I was worried I wouldn’t have enough money to stay to the 25th. I wanted to have mula when I got home. So I decided to wait until I got to Rishikesh to see how much things cost and if I could stay till then or leave a few days earlier. Well I waited longer then I should have to tell my travel agent when I wanted to leave so that by the time I got back to him it was only 4 days before I wanted to go home. He e-mailed me back saying that he didn’t have anything on the 20th that the best he could do was leave Delhi on the 17th. I would then fly to Singapore and have to spend 2 days there which I don’t think is so bad maybe after all as I thought. Anyway I would then fly to Taipai and then from there head to SF. Well Sunday mourning I decided that I either stay another 8 days in Rishikesh or I grab the 1pm bus to Delhi. So at the last minute chose option 2. The problem with waiting until the 25th was that I had 15 minutes between one of my connection and my agent couldn’t switch to later. This flight schedule he gave me was the best supposedly it got worse so I took it. I got the bus at 1:30pm. It was suppose to arrive in Delhi around 7:30. My flight to Singapore was that night at 12:15am. Ok this is the funny part. So the bus arrives late to delhi around 10:30pm or something. I catch a rikshaw driver to take me directly to the airport. It’s funny because I first I thought I would be waiting at the airport for a few hours now I was rushing to get there. So I ask how much and he says 300 Rupees. I say no way. He then says 2:50. I say ok Although using a meter taxi is better. So he takes me there and I’m constantly looking at my watch. I see that the meter he has is working and I realize that I was going to pay more then what the fair cost. So when we finally arrive it shows that the fair is less then 150 Rupees. The guy says to me so you pay me 250 and I say no I’m sorry but you were planning to charge me more then the fair actually cost . I said do you want me to get a policeman. He says no. I say I will pay you 150 more then the fare by a few ruppes or what ever and he’s trying to get me to pay 200. I say no way you were actually going to charge me double for the fair. I give him the amount and leave. My mistake to begin with is I should of just asked to use the meter from teh beginning. Luckely it was on and working.

So I rush through the airport and rush through customs thinking I had around 30 minutets or so until my flight left. After that I rush through security check cutting the line to catch my plane. So I finally get to the gate and am panting. I see the door that leads outside to a bus that drives you to the plane. 3 other people are waiting also. I figure we are the last people to get on board. Anyway two minutes later someone comes up to us to tell us the flights been delayed an hour and a half. Of course I had no Idea coming there but still to get there and then have to wait was so funny. We I’m in singapore now. It’s not cheap like the rest of SEA although it’s just like home. I did get a doorm room bead for 6 USD a night. Nice and clean in the section called little India. At the airport they at a tourist office that told me where to go to get cheap accomadations. Anyways I went to this supposed bazaar market thinking I was going to find more cheap clothing and I was wrong. It was shops but the prices were not like I’d hoped. They were mostly shops with jeans and shirts etc. So thought I would try a massage here if it was cheap but it’s not. 25 USD. Obviously it’s cheaper then home but not enought for me to get one.

The days half way over I arrived this mourning. I might go to the beach ort go to either the bird park or Batanical Gardens. Anyways I’m going to take a nap. I didn’t get to sleep last night until 3am as they served us drinks and then dinner. They then woke us up at 6 am or so to serve us breakfast. Well Its super hot.  See you soon. Oh boy in Tapai I get to spend almost all day waiting for my evening connection. I believe I arrive at 1pm from sing and then leave at 11pm to SF. Ok off to take a nap I’m tired. Over 8 hours on a bus yesterday and then my flight to here. Ciao

Well I just typed an epic tail and the computer lost internet connection so I lost all that I wrote.  I’m hungry and will say more in this post later.  I’m off to go get some Tali which a cheap way to eat and good.  It’s a platter of  different vegi dishes for real cheap.  I had already explained this before but as I lost all my work…  Well off to eat I’m hungry ciao

Ok so I’m back.  I was very witty yesterday I don’t know If I can be twice in a row. Anyway You can view my pictures on the Kodak website.  The new ones that I up loaded are available.  I checked for myself and saw them.  As we speak more are being put onto my site.  I would like to say specifically to the people in LA who’ve converted to Judaism that the pictures are on the site.  The only thing I can think of is that it’s human error or that the Kodak site was experiencing some technical problems.  You decide who’s at fault.  He he. 

So yesterday I took my first yoga class.  I wanted to join a week long intensive course but as I arrived monday night it was to late.  Also these course are more expiensive.  The yoga instructer is nice and the class last for 1 1/2 hour plus a little extra for meditation.  He’s teaching Hath Yoga.  The class only cost $2 USD.  It’s a little less then that actually.  If I sign up for more then one it’s even cheaper which I will do.  Yesterday I just wanted to try the class out before I paid for a bunch of classes.  Some of the positions are hard to hold for a long time.  It’s no secret that I’m not very limber.  One of the positions which I don’t remember teh name reguires you to lay on your stomach.  After that you grab your legs with your arms and then arch your stomach.  Your suppose to then stretch and rock back and forth.  It’s like a basket.  With time I will get better I hope.  I could grab my legs but I couldn’t lift myself off the ground.  Someday I will be able to lift my stomach off the floor like a pro.  I haven’t taken todays class yet but it will some of the same positins with some new ones.  The thing is remembering them but more specifically where exactly to put your legs ie what angle and your sholders etc.  I’t won’t kill you but performing the moves incorrectly is not good.  Hopefully after a few classes some of the positions will sink into my brain. With practice and more classes I will start to remember more positions.

So Rishikesh is nice but it’s a little to touristy.  I was hoping it would be more tranquil.  I suppose if I was at one of the ashrams that was a little more secluded it would be better.   Rishikesh has a few different sections of town along the Ganga River.  I’m in the section called Laxmanjula.  Anyway the main street is full of tourist shops and restaurants.  I was a little sad about this.  It’s suppose to be a holy city which it is but it just doesn’t feel like it.  The mountains are really lovely to look at as we are up in the mountains near the Himalayians.  Perhaps I will catch a bus up the mountain to check out the scenery.  The Ganga River is nice to the touch it is nice and cold.  Unfortunatly the river itself is not clean.  The people consider very holy yet they don’t treat it as being so.  Trash is thrown right next to the river and of course falls into it.  Also our septic water flows directly into the Ganga.  I would like to swim in the water and perhaps perform a puja but not here.  If I did this I would go further up near the head waters where it’s cleaner.  People go in it daily as they do in Varansi another holy city.  If you want you can get free Ganga water at this one restaurant probably all places offer it but for me I will stick to my bottled water.

So I know you like to hear about the food I’m eating so I will tell you.  For breakfast the last three days I’ve had this Parvati meal.  It’s basically Grilled potatos, mixed fruit, 2 pieces of whole wheat bread and tea.  For about $1.50.  It’s a great deal and its good.  The first time I saw the potatos it reminded me of Joshua Tree and the Easter when we had grilled potatos.  Easter happened or is going to happen this weekend right?  Anyways for a moment I got nastalgic.  So another thing I just discovered that is super cheap is these meals called Tali.  It’s basically 5 different vegi dishes.  Normally it includes rice, Lentels, mixed Veg’s, Rice pudding or something like that and something else like Alu Gobi.  At each restaurant it’s different slightly.  It also includes at least to pieces of Chapati which is baked Wheat bread similar to Nan.  I just discovered this the other day when the Austrian girl I told you about clued me in.  I’d seen it listed before but never asked what it was.  I paid only 25 rupes for this meal wich is a little more then half a dollar.  The exchange rate is around 43 rupes to the dollar.  So at 1pm I’m going to go with this girl I was talking to yesterday who’s in my hotel to a prayer/ meditation thing.  Its at some ashram.  Well I can’t think of much more to say except its nice here other then all these tourist. Oh ya something interesting is their are alot of young people from Isreal.  Especially young men.  After they do two years of required  military service they travel around India.  Practically every person I hear speaking is speaking Hebrew.  I think their are more people from Isreal then their are Indians and other tourists combined.

Speaking of Isreal etc.  I was carrying around with me this book by ? Smith on the Great Religions of the World.  while in Thailand I tried to read the section on Buddhism but couldn’t I had to put it down and read something more fun.  Finally while traveling through Rajasthan I picke dit up and startedto read the section on Hinduism.  Was very interesting.  After that I read the section on Islam, Judaism and Now Christianity.  Although I’d heard this fact before that these last three religions have more in common then not it sank in more reading it first hand. It was very insightful to read about Islam and Judaism.  I didn’t realize this but both religions were born of the same father Abraham.  I’m sure you guys know the story.  Abraham had 2 boys from different wives.  The one wife got mad and told her husband to send the other wife and son away.  He did.  the one boy who stayed in Jerusalam started Judaism and the one who went to mecca helped put the seeds done for Islam.  Well enought fo now. Hey do you think the papayrus scrools they found near Egypt are real.  Supposedly they say that Judah was asked by Jesus to give him up to the Romans.  To me it makes since I guess because they were good friends no but hey what do I know Im just hypothosing.  Anyway Jesus was Jewish no why would another jew give him up.  Food for thought.  Gotta go ciao  

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