Ever since I've returned from Burma, I've been itching for another big trip. For years now my parents and I have been wanting to travel overseas together, just the three of us. The last time we did so was in 2005 when we went to Italy. Much too long (although all three of us still feel that the Italy trip was one of the best trips ever). Of course this prompted many excited conversations over dinner and drinks - where should we go? Should we try to go to a country that is new for all of us? Which continent? Which hemisphere? So many options!
We tossed around Indonesia, Panama, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, and more. We knew that scheduling would be tough - three different work schedules and all the things that come with them. In June, my Mom reminded Dad and me that she was heading to Nepal the end of September for one of her bi-annual medical mission trips with Global Health Initiatives. (to learn about GHI, and the good work they do for the people of the world, go to: www.globalhealthcentura.org). My mother is the (volunteer) Surgical Services Coordinator for all of their trips to Nepal, Rwanda, and Peru and she works tirelessly to help both the team members and the people of the countries they service. I'm sure you'll read lots of my boasting of her while we're on this trip! Dad and I said "hmmmm......" and the wheels started turning. What if we met Mom in Nepal, spent time there, and then at the end of her trip we three went on to another country? Of course, knowing that we would be in Nepal immediately made me think "INDIA!" Everyone agreed and we booked our flights and a trip in the Golden Triangle of India with Intrepid Travels.
Mom has been to India before, and astoundingly, my father has NOT! Seriously it shocked me. He has been so many places around the world that I never thought we would visit a country together that he had not already been to! Mom left on September 25, and now Dad and I are on the way to join her in Kathmandu.
A few important things I've been thinking about prior to beginning this trip.
As many of you know, Nepal was hit by a devastating earthquake on April 25 and quickly followed by another almost equally devastating. This earthquake was 7.8 magnitude and the worst the country has seen in 80 years. Along with the horriying death toll, many people lost their homes and the earthquake also destroyed significant parts of the country's cultural heritage, including large portions of the historic durbar squares in Kathmandu, Bkatapur, and Patan.
I do have some slight apprehension about visiting so quickly after such a disaster. Not because I don't want to be there, or fear for our safety or well being, but I don't want the people to think we are being voyeurs. Perhaps voyeurs is not quite the correct word - I don't want the local people to think that just because we are visiting means that we are unaware of their plight. I've thought about this a lot - most of the people that I know have made donations to help Nepal after the earthquakes. This is an excellent start to helping them with emergency needs such a shelter, clean water, medicine, and food as well as to help them begin to rebuild their homes, temples, and other buildings. However we all know that disaster relief is exactly that - short term relief that is dedicated to one cause. What Nepal needs is to have industry resume; and tourism is their biggest industry. I can only imagine that tourism trickled to a halt after the earthquake, which is appropriate. No one wants a bunch of tourists running around in the face of a disaster. I like to think that we are doing some good to the people of Nepal by visiting and telling others that it is safe to visit. Though I've never been to Nepal, I've met many Nepalese people and I will easily say that they are some of the kindest, happiest, and most generous people on the planet. If you book a trip to Nepal with Intrepid Travel right now, 100% of the proceeds go to Nepal to help rebuild. It will be difficult to be there. Seeing what the local populace is going through as they attempt to rebuil their lives will be so sad, as will seeing ancient temples and ruins destroyed by the earthquake.
Now you've heard me mention Intrepid twice. I am THRILLED to be traveling with Intrepid again for our India trip. I used them when I went to Burma last May (How was it so long ago?!) and I really can't say enough good things about them. Based in Australia, they focus on a small and local style of travel. They always use local guides and really focus on showing you what life is really like in the country being visited, rather than some suger coated touristic version. The only downside of how wonderful my trip to Burma was, however, is that I have high expectations for India! I think that the feelings I have for Burma and for that trip exist for several different reasons.
When I went to Burma, I was in desperate need of escape and rejuvenation. I most certainly didn't run away from anything, but I did run towards the opportunity to be involved in something else than what was going on in my life at that point. Yes, I went to travel and explore and grow, but I also went because I needed to do something for myself. And, as most decisions that start out being solely for oneself, the trip changed that completely. Burma transcended any travel experience that I've had, for so many reasons. First and foremost, the people that I met on that trip are now incredibly dear friends. Mez, Tom, Barbara, Eleonore, Sanjay, Phil, Joseph, and I became like family. Even Joseph, our amazing guide and the happiest man in Burma, said that he'd rarely seen groups become this close! We had an incredible time together and shared some of the most incredible moments. That is truly something to be treasured. Second, Burma itself was beyond belief. If you're new to following my blog since the Burma trip, the entire trip is on here. I encourage you to read it if you're interested in traveling to Burma (virtually or in reality!). Beautiful countryside, kind resilient people, rich history and culture. The trip wasn't about me at all - it changed me for the best and I came home feeling more like my true self than I had in ages. That's the best thing about travel! What you take away from the experience is worth more than absolutely any price.
When Dad and I arrive in Newark, we have a three hour layover until our flight to Delhi leaves at 10:00 pm Eastern time. Then we have a quick flight of 14 hours and 20 minutes to Delhi. Yikes, definitely one of the longest flights I've ever been on! We arrive in Delhi at 9:30 pm (that's correct, we land 30 minutes before we departed if you ignore the time zones!) and will have to collect our checked bags, go through Customs and Immigration, re-enter the airport, and spend the night in the transit hotel within the airport. If you're familiar with my Customs experience from Chengdu, China, you'll understand why I'm hoping all goes very smoothly (That's on the second post of the blog, I believe). We'll try to get some decent sleep before we have to wake up super early to board our flight to Kathmandu, which leaves Delhi around 7:30 and arrives in Kathmandu at 9:00 am. What a whirlwind!
I'm excited for so many reasons. Seeing Nepal, viewing the Himalayas from the balcony of our hotel, visiting Bhaktapur and Pokhara, catching a glimpse of Mt. Everest, seeing the hospital where my mother and so many other friends have helped so many people, meeting my mother's Nepalese friends, experiencing the chaos of Kathmandu and Delhi, visiting Rajasthan (one of the places in the world I've always wished to go) and its majestic forts and palaces, seeing the Taj Majal, getting outside of my comfort zone, dining on delicious food, making new friends (I have very high expectations for my room mate in India, thanks to Mez!), seeing how local people live their everyday lives, and simply exist in a different way. Most of all, I'm thrilled to be doing this with my parents. It is going to be quite the time!
I do hope you'll all join us on our trip - I'll try to post as often as I can, but that really depends on wireless connectivity. Sometimes there might be many posts when I have good access, and sometimes there might be a few days between posts. I'll also try to post lots of photos via Instagram and Facebook. I look forward to reading all of your comments and to hearing from you! Talk to you again from Nepal!
No comments:
Post a Comment