Mumabi (bombay) Airport. On my way to Goa for the spralling arabian sea beaches.
The Gateway to India
Down town Mumbai India
Grab yourself a taxi instead of a tuktuk- there is a union for the taxi drivers.
A boy shows off his plastic bottles to get fresh water on Chowpatti beach in Mumbai India
Homeless family lives under a boat on chowpatti beach Mumbai
Marine Drive, Mumbai India
Heading to spend Holiday in Goa. Happy holidays from India
Depending on where you come from and what experience you have in traveling the different regions of the world India can be anywhere from mildly interesting to incredible daunting. My senses were simply just not ready for what India had in store for me.
On my first day to India I had flown in from Moscow Russia to New Delhi that would later connect to Jaipur in Rajasthan. The flight from Delhi to Jaipur was 27 minutes.
Arriving in Delhi then transferring to Jaipur.
Delhi International Airport
My plan was pretty undecided but one thing was for certain I wanted to see the country and volunteer. A friend from the states had introduced me to an organization that was trying to make its way to be an NGO and recommended that I start out my Indian experience with volunteering for them.
I agreed and arranged to have someone meet me at the airport so I could get to the guest house where they had arranged for me to sleep.
International and Domestic Airport in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
India hit me instantaneously as I stepped out into the humidity of the airport arrivals. The end of the rainy season was still dragging its feet across Jaipur. I was slapped in the face with the hot weather and the sight of mosquitoes lingering around waiting for any sight of flesh. I threw on my my jacket as it was at the top of my backpack and lathered up some repellent right away.
The man that was sent to pick me up was having seriou car troubles and asked me “to pray” for his car as it may stall. And it did stalled when we were on a highway going the opposite direction! I thought how could this be possible. I will die on my first hours of arriving
Here are some photos of my first hours in Jaipur, India.
The car stalled facing oncoming trucks, cars and motorbikes, I got out to move away from this clear and evident liability.
This is the photo I took when my driver’s car stalled on the high way. You can see the oncoming traffic coming at the car, which is facing the opposite way of where I am looking. the large truck next to me is facing the correct direction. When the car stalled he got out and helped push my drivers car off the side of the road. Overwhelmed and already exhausted from travel I thought I had seen enough of India for my first hour. But the day just started.
The driver yelling in Hindi at my driver that he is going the wrong way. That he needs to move his car. He came down and helped push the car off to the shoulder.
Men helping to push the car I was being taxied around in off to the side of the road out of on coming traffic. Thank you!
Astonishing, Cows roam free in the streets and eat rubbish.
A man waits for the city bus in Mansarovar, Jaipur. The suburban city where my guest house is located, but I will be working in the inner city slums.
The filthiest river I have ever smelt in my life. It runs across Jaipur containing everything from factory run offs to human fecal mater, rubbish, dead animals and plastics. I wish I could have a scratch and sniff for you to observe
Then finally we arrive in this narrow street, puddles of water lay stagnant swarming with mosquitoes and flies from the rains, a friendly cow wanders to sniff out some food.
Looking down I had to take a photo. There is trash everywhere. I’ve only been here just a few hours, and this is just a small meter by meter section of the entire city. wow.
The street where I’ll be staying.
The view from on top of the rented guest house. I had to look to see where I was sleeping.
As I walked off the plane and onto the grounds of Düsseldorf International Airport I took a look around and soaked in the feeling and excitement mixed with a bit of uncertainty. The struggles, all the workouts, the training’s, and the sacrifices all have come to this, but I haven’t even made a team yet, I had to still prove my worth. I knew I was about to embark on the last stretch, the last chance, and here I was with everything I had left. Go big or go home. Literally.
My mind filled with questions and doubts. I sat there and looked around. The airport became silent and my thoughts were racing.
Everything has come to this, the travel the training and the emotions. It was then, I thought about where I came from and what I had been through in life so far and knew I was indeed cut out for this and this was my time. I thought about all the work I had put in, all the people that believe in me and those that think I will fail. I know I can do this, and I believe that I will get to where I desire.
sit, sip, savor,
Landing in Rome, Italy
Walked off the airplane into the heat of summer, down to the baggage claim and gathered my bags, then mysteriously walked to the customs checkpoint waited in line, they looked at my passport then waived me on without a stamp. Wait, what the heck man? I want a stamp. This could be bad, that means they won’t know when I arrived? It’s not really my fault is it that they didn’t stamp me, and just waived me through. Perhaps it’s the new passport? I am pretty sure if the government wanted to know my whereabouts they could trace my whereabouts. Correct? Well if it’s a problem later down the road I hope I don’t sweat too much.
So here I am, Rome, an epicenter of Europe, or so they say. The first thing I noticed was that people love coffee shops, and espresso here is delicious. So like most of my travels, once I get somewhere I like to just sit and soak up the environment and gather myself. After all it was a pretty long flight over here. So I found a cafe in the airport. I found a seat and ordered from the waiter a double espresso.
As I sat there I smiled and looked around. I made it. So now what? Well I toast to you Drew and all my p about my choice to pick up and take a leap of faith. As I sipped me espresso and looked around the airport at all the international travelers I said aloud this is going to be some journey. Cheers to life.