Overnight Train to Varanasi
While on the train to our next destination, I wrote, "This is a comedy routine and I can't bring myself to describe it all!"
You should have seem us at the train station. First of all we were told that there were "bad men" in the train station who would touch the women on their private parts. I made great efforts to encourage the group to stay together with the men on the outside rim of the group.
We entered the station and found our place on the platform only to discover that our train was late. Okay, it's India. What to do? Surrender.
So some of us began drinking Indian rum. Amit drank quite a bit. By the time the train arrived and we had to get in, sort through our luggage and find out sleeper compartments, we looked like a scene from I Love Lucy. We were in pandemonium and we caused this state all around us with everyone on the train.
Finally we settled down to some poor India food being served and then everyone went to sleep, or at least I thought we all did. There were up and down bunks with curtains some arranged in groups of four and some just in a straight line on the other side of the isle.
I slept until about 8:30 am when I awoke to find the film crew outside shooting footage of the locals who met the train to sell chai, etc. The children around them handed us neem branches and told us they were toothbrushes. We laughed only to find out that in fact, these branches when the bark is peeled back, give off a mint taste that is totally refreshing. So, there we all stood with branches in our mouths rubbing the innermost parts on our gums. And of course, we almost caused a riot when Amit went to tip them and asked them to share from whatever size bill he handed to one of them. He managed to calm them and I believe the hungry mob did follow his advice about sharing since when we departed they all seemed happy.
Well, then I discovered that Randall had not slept the entire night. Evidently he was too big for his bunk. Marie did not sleep either, but I do not know why.
something I am noticing about this tour is that much to my surprise we are getting to interact with more common Indian people than I imagined and about this I am happy. There's no question that the camera is attracting children wherever we go and many adults as well. They all gather around to see what we are shooting. And then they want to be a part of it. Many of them think we are fashion models or movie stars so they come to see.
But I think it's the openness and the generosity of our group members that attracts them to move right along with us through the throngs of the crowds, through all the hawkers.
Helen. As I mentioned before, hangs out with the kids for as long as we are in a particular spot. And Sharon heard music the night before when we were in Agra, went down into the street with Andrea and ended up dancing in an Indian wedding procession!
They say they would not have been able to make this trip to India without me. They would not have done it alone. I know I have provided a safe space for their experience and transformation and I too am transformed by them. I feel even more connected to India through their connection.
I am truly blessed.
Laurie
You should have seem us at the train station. First of all we were told that there were "bad men" in the train station who would touch the women on their private parts. I made great efforts to encourage the group to stay together with the men on the outside rim of the group.
We entered the station and found our place on the platform only to discover that our train was late. Okay, it's India. What to do? Surrender.
So some of us began drinking Indian rum. Amit drank quite a bit. By the time the train arrived and we had to get in, sort through our luggage and find out sleeper compartments, we looked like a scene from I Love Lucy. We were in pandemonium and we caused this state all around us with everyone on the train.
Finally we settled down to some poor India food being served and then everyone went to sleep, or at least I thought we all did. There were up and down bunks with curtains some arranged in groups of four and some just in a straight line on the other side of the isle.
I slept until about 8:30 am when I awoke to find the film crew outside shooting footage of the locals who met the train to sell chai, etc. The children around them handed us neem branches and told us they were toothbrushes. We laughed only to find out that in fact, these branches when the bark is peeled back, give off a mint taste that is totally refreshing. So, there we all stood with branches in our mouths rubbing the innermost parts on our gums. And of course, we almost caused a riot when Amit went to tip them and asked them to share from whatever size bill he handed to one of them. He managed to calm them and I believe the hungry mob did follow his advice about sharing since when we departed they all seemed happy.
Well, then I discovered that Randall had not slept the entire night. Evidently he was too big for his bunk. Marie did not sleep either, but I do not know why.
something I am noticing about this tour is that much to my surprise we are getting to interact with more common Indian people than I imagined and about this I am happy. There's no question that the camera is attracting children wherever we go and many adults as well. They all gather around to see what we are shooting. And then they want to be a part of it. Many of them think we are fashion models or movie stars so they come to see.
But I think it's the openness and the generosity of our group members that attracts them to move right along with us through the throngs of the crowds, through all the hawkers.
Helen. As I mentioned before, hangs out with the kids for as long as we are in a particular spot. And Sharon heard music the night before when we were in Agra, went down into the street with Andrea and ended up dancing in an Indian wedding procession!
They say they would not have been able to make this trip to India without me. They would not have done it alone. I know I have provided a safe space for their experience and transformation and I too am transformed by them. I feel even more connected to India through their connection.
I am truly blessed.
Laurie
posted by Latihan at 3:26 AM
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