TravelStream™ news feed for member bgleixner on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/bgleixner en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:34:27 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1162279500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1162279500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1162279500/tpod.html Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:34:27 -0400 Learning, thinking, being in India ...

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Hyderabad, India

OK then! Leila has departed. It really breaks my heart a bit. I had my first night alone at home ... her door wasn't open ... no music ... no "hey!" ... I have no one to drop in on anymore! More then that ... I've lost my best buddy in Hyderabad! We had a little going away dinner for Leila at a restaurant called Little Italy in Banjara Hills. It was nice - way better then I expected but still no comparison to the Italian cuisine in NYC. We also visited Golconda Fort before Leila left - that was good fun. Its always fun to do mindless touristy things in between all of the work. Now Leila is in Japan ... I will see her again in Germany (did you hear that! I am coming to Germany!) I am not quite sure how my family will react to all the travel plans I have conjured up while here in India ... Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam ... and all of Europe (I have invites guys!) ... well I say do it while you can! Once I have a masters its all over with - no more fun till I am retired :).

I am off to NYC tomorrow. I will only be there for a short while (5 days) but I am really looking forward to this unplanned break. I will be having a pre-thanksgiving with family. I am getting a bit sad that I'll miss the "trio" ... Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years. Thats OK - I am doing something I love ... right?
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1171553460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1171553460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1171553460/tpod.html Mon, 19 Feb 2007 10:40:56 -0500 Learning, thinking, being in India ...

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New York, New York, United States

I thought I'd tag on this entry since I was actually featured and the travelpod admin wasn't kidding!!! WOha! I have been back for almost a month. NYC is cold, rigid, and somewhat uninviting - yet its home - I suppose I derive some sort of comfort from that.

I miss Inida more then I thought I would. I was so free there ... and that freedom made me feel more alive. It is so true that you need distance to realise what you had. I appreciate India for all that it is now that I have the cushion of time to aid my perspective.

It is an amazing country - so diverse - so intense. India is a place that will influence you most for all that it is - the brutal honesty of the place will humble you - and maybe confuse you. Noone will ever ask for pity - or make excuses for what they are - it is transparent in that sense.

I hope you enjoyed reading my travelogue as much as I enjoyed creating it. Please feel free to send an e-mail anytime you have a question or remark. Happy Travels!!!!!!!!!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167650100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167650100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167650100/tpod.html Thu, 04 Jan 2007 11:32:25 -0500 Learning, thinking, being in India ...

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Goa, India

Well well well .... what can I say about Goa. The beaches were not AS great as Kerala. I am not sure if it was where we were staying or what - but I never had so many people openly ask me if I wanted drugs in my life. Yikes! What can I say about his place except there were tons of tourists - all rearing to get into scooter accidents and half-dressed - sometimes both!! Wopppeee!

We met up with a huge group ... and we all slept under a tarp on the roof of a hotel type building. I tell you it was actually quite nice to sleep in the open air. I wish I had taken a picture of the 30 or so mattresses strew about ... more people came with each day - but it never seemed like too much. It was like a camping adventure ... minus the peace and quiet. We spent one day sight seeing, one day beaching, and the final day eating to our hearts content at a fabby restaurant before boarding the bus.

The New Year was spectacular for the fireworks. We spent the evening at a "club" on the beach where there was a buffet and free drinks for a cover. Goa is well known for its club scene. Food was good, drinks kept me happy, but the dancing was eh. We snuck to the beach to watch the madness of the fireworks - it was intense. SO MANY fireworks ... the Indians do everything in bulk. It was a beautiful sight to see the ocean lit up by fireworks - people smiling - sparks everywhere - the sand in your toes - the air just right. It was beautiful.

But then I think the New Year was most impressive in retrospect. Maybe I didn't realize it in the moment but that was surely one of the most memorable experiences - capitulating an entire trip - through some of the most beautiful places on Earth ... with a great group of friends ... being through all sorts of crazy experiences. We had a car break down, a blister on the foot, long backpack laden walks on the beach, falls out of hammocks, baseball size coackroaches, awesome waves for body boarding, pizza - beer - sunset on a cliff, missing trains, fish and beer bus stops, 30-person-under-a-tarp-on-a-roof nights, late night beach hang out sessions, endless public bus trips, carrying-case-of-beer-down road moments, arguments with rickshaw drivers, and who could forget the 22 hours of pure bliss on a boat! The best thing is that this list hardly covers the gammot of experiences - and it all added up to a smashing good New Year that I won't forget.

It is almost time to go home ... and I am getting real sad at the thought. When we all departed ways upon our return in Hyderabad I felt a bit of sadness creep in - the begining of the end of a great experience in India. I think back to November when I was really gearing up to leave - now I think ... I wish I had one more week - one more month. But, then it seems I am always having to go back to something at sometime. I can never stay in one place for too long ... maybe one day I will.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167303720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167303720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167303720/tpod.html Thu, 04 Jan 2007 11:14:31 -0500 Learning, thinking, being in India ...

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Mangalore, India

Well it was sort of a beach resort ... but they didn't have any beer! (I think beer is a general theme in these vacation entries ... uhuhmm) Thats fine. The water was nice, but we were the only ones on the beach and a dozen little kids invaded our under-the-palm-tree shady spot. Thats OK. There was a POOL.

So we hung out in the pool for a bit, then played some volleyball, then laid in the hammocks (well everyone else laid in the hammocks and I fell out of it - twice - don't ask). We had dinner out on a patio at the restaurant in the resort. It was a nice meal - though paled in comparison to some of the other food we had. All in all it was a relaxing day that made up for the shuffle - shuffle from one place to the next.

But nothing could have prepared us for the next big transportation blow sent our way .... we had train tickets booked for the wrong day!!! An honest mistake given that the tickets were booked for right after midnight ... but for the 27th not the 28th! So we had missed our train a day earlier. The guys bargained hard for a rickshaw and we crashed at a hotel that had cockroaches the size of a baseball ... after 4 hours in the nasty place we were at the bus station by 6am to get the first bus to Goa.

The bus trip ended up being fun so I am somewhat glad we missed the train! The pit stop at a local lunch joint was stellar. Being that it was a local joint I expected what I've always seen in Andhra ... standard tiffins and water that I wouldn't dare drink. Well this place had tiffins - but with FISH! YUMMY FISH! And they had BEER! WHAT! I was absolutely floored. I ate the fish with such pleasure and sucked down a beer to make the remaining hours of the hellish bus ride more comfortable. It worked as I could barely feel the heat of the noon time sun reddening my skin and making it all sticky ... I was daydreaming as we sped through the turns and dodged traffic along the serene palm-lined roads. I am on VACATION!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167907980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167907980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167907980/tpod.html Thu, 04 Jan 2007 11:04:25 -0500 Learning, thinking, being in India ...

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Varkala, India

Getting to Varkala was probably the biggest joke of the trip. We went to the train station ... no train till 11 pm ... too late. We went to the bus station ... every bus was packed so tight we would have surely suffocated. Back to the train station ... still not convinced the train is a good bet. What about a taxi? It was a staggering 1800 rupees - but we were tired and did not want to wait another 5 hours for a train that would put us into Varkala until 2am. What could go wrong?

The simple answer is EVERYTHING. Did the car break down? Yes. Did the driver fall asleep at the wheel? Yes. Did we get lost? Yes, temporarily. Did we end up getting there at roughly the same time as the train? YES! But hey, you live and you learn and then you realize that when it comes to India there is no one right answer - particularly when it comes to transportation.

Varkala was amazing - and definitely one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to. The water was the perfect temperature, the waves were decent enough for some body boarding, and the palm trees were doing there swaying in the wind thang. The place was surprisingly calm for a tourist spot during the high season - no complaints there. All the restaurants had tasty food if you knew how to order correctly and are willing to wait triple the normal time. The stores were full of all the typical touristy tiny tops and crazy pants ... weird shoes, chunky necklaces and salespeople who were IMPOSSIBLE. Would you believe that they actually made me feel uncomfortable at being in their shops ... yikes.
We had Christmas dinner at the local Taj ... it was a nice buffet complete with outdoor seating and a live Indian dance performance. The food was not AMAZING - though Tobi seemed to enjoy the steak a bit too much - after is fourth serving I thought he would stop ... but in India you eat when you can as he says. I think he is right. Truth is, you never know when you really will get your next good meal.
We rented bikes on the first day - or the boys did actually. I just got to sit on the back and take pictures. YEA! We ended up doing a bit of discovery and found a great coastal road that went through a series of villages. The people were so friendly - our favorite was the man who randomly began to dance in the middle of the road as we passed .... or maybe the little boy wearing the santa mask who posed for a picture.

I got to see a Kathakali performance with Johannes - the newest addition to our trip. Sweet guy who let me borrow his shoes after someone STOLE MY SANDALS ON THE BEACH. I mean REALLY - whats that all about. It was great ... pics here tell it all. The skill demonstrated by the dancers is stellar ... I was truly terrified by the demon ... and somewhat embarrassed by the beautiful lady when she smiled ... the characters were so elegantly portrayed - the costumes were crazy - the makeup an art. In my opinion, this is a must see if you visit Kerala.

We are off to a house boat now as we have finally booked a boat ... thank goodness that pressure is off - it was so difficult to make the reservation - yikes! High season certainly has its low points - one of them is trying to get your plans straight without all the hassle.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167908220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167908220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167908220/tpod.html Thu, 04 Jan 2007 10:29:24 -0500 Learning, thinking, being in India ...

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Alappuzha, India

WHAT!!!! You must do a house boat ... MUST! Of course if you are there when we were you will pay upwards of 14,000 rupees as we did. But it was worth it.

We happened to have an amazing boat. We carried on our backpacks, a case of beer, and tired feet ... and felt immediately relaxed. No need to think about where to find food, where to sit for a spell, where we would sleep for the night, how to get from here to there, the hassling ... its all on hold while you are on the houseboat.

I would argue that we had the best place in the universe to dock for the evening. We had the scene of a a swelling canal and a sunset that peeked through the trees which lined the banks. If you turned around you would find the rice paddies bright green in the fading sunset.
The food was tasty, the beer was cold, the scenery was dreamy, the company was good ... it was a temporary heaven. A small escape from the realities that plague me beyond the constructed reality - a vacation - a fantasy ... a break from the pressures.
I think there were a few moments there that I convinced myself everything would be OK ... but then we had to get off the boat. The next group was booked for 11am. They kicked us off at 10am the next morning - an hour earlier the planned. Welcome back to India, Brittany. We strapped on our backpacks and headed to a nearby beach to hang for the day.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167907800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167907800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1167907800/tpod.html Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:56:43 -0500 Learning, thinking, being in India ...

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Cochin, India

So we arrive in Cochin in the morning after a quick flight ... most of which was spent worrying that the crappy plane wouldn't sudden;y stall and land in the middle of a cotton field ... we got through it OK. Me, Mikko, and Tobi ... it was a great first day.
Luckily I had Tobi on the trip who is all about a good meal and a crisp glass of wine (or beer) to tote. Our first lunch was tasty - and a bit scandalous. The beer was served in a tea pot ... "madame we do not have a license" says the waiter in a whisper ... as if someone would have heard ... yikes. Well we had a blast pouring beer out of a teapot into a mug and pretending to be sober (at least I did). This was a vacation!! In fact, I think it was my first REAL vacation - and the place couldn't have been more perfect.
We strolled through Fort Cochin, which was delightful. We all would have loved to have more time for shopping and sight seeing. But the beach was awaiting us and we had a big trip ahead of us ... no tickets - and we assumed it would be an easy trip from point A to point B ... but its India ... its NEVER that simple.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1166119200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1166119200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1166119200/tpod.html Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:28:06 -0500 Learning, thinking, being in India ...

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Hyderabad, India

... or maybe its that in my quest to understand inequality I have found that maybe its a good lesson in equality that I need. I just simply do not understand how people can live with it - here or at home in the United States. Maybe where I live in New York its unique ... in the sense that inequalities are so viciously exposed ... or is it that I am missing a part of the picture in trying to compare two places that are seperated by more then just an ocean.

I do not think I will ever understand the fact that some people here are just simply treated as if they were not humans. Many upper caste Indians have a person to work in their home - if not two. Of course the ultra rich have an entire staff. In the neighborhood I live in families are well-off (1-2 household staff-well-to-do). I cannot believe the way I hear my neighbor yell at the people who work in the house. I cannot believe the fact that if I am standing in the house they might have to stand there for five minutes while my neighbor goes on and on talking about something I cannot even focus on because clearly there is a person in the room who needs to address her ... but my neighnor will pay no mind to the staff member until she is good and ready. Even then the tone is snappy ... and impatient. What is that all about?

There is a woman who comes in every morning to take care of chores in my flat. I never asked for the service, "it came with the flat." For the first two months I just had her come in and sweep and then said thats enough ... thanks. Then between my crazy work schedule and my general lack of knowledge in how to clean clothes properly without a machine (it sounds pathetic but there is actually a technique you have to master) I had her help with that ... I still wonder at times if I should offer her a cup of tea ... of maybe get her a gift before I leave. But, I barely know her ... and we are not able to communicate at all. Even so she aparently asks me a lot of questions - or so it seems by the tone. I tend to get frustrated by my inability to deal with the whole situation and just shake my head. It feels very wierd ... but I suppose one has to get used to it right? I mean, she's getting paid right?

But, the reality is that it is not that simple. It is not like the U.S. where I have heard of cleaning persons making double minimum wage in some Manhattan apartments - and even then they set strict perameters for what they will and will not do. ( I am not undermining the struggle some workers endure in the States - particularly immigrants who comprise the informal sector in this profession). Its the economy of it maybe ... supply and demand ... in India there is a large supply of unskilled, uneducated workforce. But WHY are these persons in that position? And WHAT IS IT that keeps the system the way it is? The caste system is a huge factor here ... that some Indians feel it is their birthright to order other persons around is disgusting to me. Some honestly buy into the hierarchical system and are convinced that "they" (lower castes) exist simply to provide for their needs. It is entrenched here. Not only that ... I have never seen the concept of superior - inferior more at work in any other context in my life.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1165889700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1165889700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1165889700/tpod.html Thu, 14 Dec 2006 13:35:09 -0500 Learning, thinking, being in India ...

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Hyderabad, India

Oh yes - the day has finally come ... my travelogue will be featured on the welcome page of Travelpod ... I am sure the fact that I have had so many wonderful visitors to my page brought a certain air of karma and positive energy - if you believe in that sort of thing. ANYWAY - they have "several months" of travelogues in the queue ... so I don't know if that means I will be featured even after I've gone home! Whatever the case, its exciting.
Besides that things are going pretty well. I have been trying to adopt a certain lifestyle for my last two months in Hyderabad. It is going way too quickly. I have managed to read a book and I am well into the next. I have made some nice friends and promised myself to do something social each week. I have tried to cook at home as often as possible ... but most of all I am trying to get a solid 8 hours in the office to write my flipping research! I do not know why but I have been distracted and unable to focus. It scares me at times - the lack of focus - my scatter brain.
I worked all weekend ... took off Monday. On Sunday I went to a BKVV (teachers for child rights) meeting where I gave a presentation on the American education system and history of child labour in America. I made a fantastic power point and ended up fielding 32 questions! At the end of the two hour session I felt as if I would faint - the fever had started. I just decided to call it a day. I also worked Saturday, as usual. Of course I didn't get much done, as noted, mostly because I had to finish the power point. Honestly, my biggest problem is that I jump from on assignment to the next instead of putting the much needed focus onto one task. I assume the remedy for this will be forcing myself to open only ONE document at a time. I also liked the idea Ann suggested of putting a small mark on a document every time you touch it. Mine would probably have too many marks.

An interesting development is that Shantha asked me to be MVF's UN representative in New York. Amazing! Apparently MVF is an ECOSOC accredited NGO and I would register, get a pass and attend the regular meetings of the Working Group on UNICEF for MVF. They would also like me to arrange for MVF presence in the upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women. This is something that I would be able to do on a very part time and, of course, voluntary basis for MVF when I get back to New York.

Aside from this I am looking for a job in NYC. I have applied to nine positions with a variety of organizations including IRC, Doctors Without Borders, Professionals for Non profits, and Amnesty International. Unfortunately, most of the positions are administrative. I think that the application and research process for a job also took valuable time from me this past week. I plan to commit myself to a solid week of nothing but work on my research paper. I know what I have to do and I know how to do it. It is just a matter of focusing on setting realistic goals for the day and working towards achieving them. That is so much easier said then done.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1163317560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1163317560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bgleixner/india_2006/1163317560/tpod.html Fri, 08 Dec 2006 22:52:10 -0500 Learning, thinking, being in India ...

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Delhi, India

I got to attend the brilliant Indian Social Forum these past few days. It was full of dancing, eating, color, singing and tons of anti-imperialist vigor! Lots of people abusing the spotlight and going on and on in one hour monologues about injustice - and every single word that comes from their mouth resonates ... even if it is the fourth time they have made the same point in the same speech. ISF was about solidarity ....
The flight was great - Contiental Airlines direct from Newark to Delhi, daily!!! WONDERFUL!! Making the "transition" back to India from NYC was a bit rough this time. I had the typical "no madame we do not have a reservation in your name" upon arrival. I screamed in the phone ... this complete disregard for people is uncalled for. Then of course the taxi driver got lost - it took an hour to find the place and I had to argue with him to continue searching. He would have just left me in the street at 11pm with my bags and all if I let him. Then I finally get to a hotel - roach infested hotel. I could barely sleep ... they were even on the bed - thats BAD. If they are in the bathroom or you just see one upon entering then its tolerable ... this was insane.
I stayed there 3 nights until I shifted to the place that "lost" my reservation. I have been there 2 nights I am heading to Madhya Pradesh tonight. I will be interviewing 2 goverment officials and take 6 case studies. I will also do some tourism. It is quite the backwards area - in terms of infastructure, literacy, mortality etc.
After this is Bihar ... even more desperate. I will meet with ActionAid representatives who are working with MVF in that area. I will also meet a rep from a local NGO that is getting training from MVF. I will also visit where Buddah became enlightened. Yea!
Then I will be in Kolkata for 3 days before returning to Hyderabad.
I will map things out as I will not have internet access till Kolkata.
I am not really looking forward to the train rides - but luckily we are in AC compartments! A bit of luck and can you believe that my organization switched the tickets and booked us up a class .... goodbye sleeper class!!! Hello semi-luxury! I will let you know how it is .... only 13 hours ... not too terrible.
In Delhi I also saw the Red Fort, the bazaar, the Jama Masjid ... and Karims. I am going to the World Bank offices today to get some data on structural adjustment and agricultural sector ... for my paper for Prof Dwyer. Professor ,... if you are reading this I know you would be proud to hear that I am picking up info every where I go - now I have to FINISH THE PAPER!!!!
I tell you I really do fit in as much writing as possible - its just tough with all this travelling. Speaking of which I have to get my journals in ... DAMN! I am overworked - so much so that for some wierd reason I started crying when the STD phone shop charged me double what I expected for a call - the rate was so high and I tried to debate but my mental, physical and spiritual exhaustion got the better of me and I just cried. People just stared at me. I paid, walked out and stood on the street - watched a cow go by while I composed myself ... and walked on. Its all you can do ... just keep walking ... like Johnnie :)
I will add (the AMAZING) photos when in Hyderabad .... it is impossibly slow here.
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