The half time whistle in Shimla...
Trip Start
May 31, 2008
1
6
33
Trip End
Jul 31, 2009
Shimla,
India
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Well - just checkin in to report that thankfully I passed my first Microsoft exam of two yesterday - one down - one (aka 'The Beast' 70-291) to go.
Couple things to reflect on....
Had a bit of a spiritual experience yesterday on my way in to class... it was my first time taking the 30 minute (fast pace) walk to class along the mountain side on my own. I'd got a free taxi to start with and then had walked in with fellow students but today I was alone with my thoughts and relished the prospect.
It's an uphill start along the Mall (lots of little shops and market stalls/restaurants) before a sharp turn up a hill and onto the Ridge which has a big square with lots of statues. There was the Shimla Summer Festival on there all last week and it was even more of a hive of activity than normal - a real big deal too - broadcast on national TV.
I digress - up onto the Ridge I walk with the new Coldplay album 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends' playing on my phone (Coldplay at their usual uplifting best). Whilst listening I anticipated my exam ahead of me... with a really crucial few hours for my future life on my mind I looked up in awe at the golden statue of Mahatma Ghandi in the midde of the square, as regal a statue as I've ever seen and one of a simple man in sandles, a stick in one hand and a book in another. Very powerful and quite symbolic for my challange ahead. I felt extremely lucky to walk past such a noble symbol of a man every morning during this period of learning for me.
The next 25 minutes I found it nigh on impossible not to grin from ear to ear on my way to the training centre.
Half time from Shimla
The lush green mountain side road - a service road along to a hospital and a virtually pedestrianised oasis amongst a LOT of horrendous traffic everywhere else - was BRIMMING with life. By and large this was a real mix of people going about their business, school kids, hospital folk, employees... I felt the centre of attention as I strode forward as a white person stands out, however, for every stare I got I flashed back a smile and this was met straight back with a generally broad smile of recognition back, very warm.Amongst this humanity - above it and all around this jungle path - are the monkeys. They are red-faced and nearer towards the training centre black faced and larger. They exist generally in unison with the people and it's amazing to see wild animals going about their business unrestricted amongst humans - especially ones which are so full of character. There are lazy ones, energetic one's, silly, adventurous and aggressive ones. They all seem to be hungry! The most amazing are the Mum/baby duo's - especially when you don't see baby at first as Mum swings along an electricity cable or shoots up a rock and then you get a glimpse of a small cute baby looking a little shocked, crawling along some part of her body. I can best draw a parallel to a person moving forward on a train cautiously as it rockets around a corner at high speed. You know you won't fall over but at the same time you're taking it kind of easy as the world wooshes by you at high velocity!
Ace!
My epiphany came 'Viva La Vida' came onto my phone and the mountain receded to town and a sea of people starting their day erupted in front of me as dogs and the larger big monkeys scavenged food around an open skip full with food waste together...
I was full of anticipation of my exam and yet at the same time I knew that nothing really mattered really...
Main man
Indians and India seems to have a great way of reflecting life's great inevitable ebb and flow... you can't stop it and life goes on. The rich and poor, the old and young, the dogs and monkeys, all seem to mash into one colourful mass and despite being apparently less developed, poorer, dirtier... all seem to be generally so much happier over here. A smile is given so much easier. And what I realize now is that a genuine and free smile is the most valuable commodity on earth. Worth more than a million exams.Finally, I was surprised to hear how impressed my friend Purdy was with my hotel room after he stopped by today. As I walked with him he commented on how it was a nice hotel. He is a retired Civil Servant and is staying in a government hotel called 'The Grand Hotel'. I'm going for dinner with him which I'd arranged earlier, expecting to be blown away by this place. I have my reservations now after he commented that he was impressed about my hotel (which I think is a bit rough). On his way up the stairs he piped up about the torn mankey looking red and green carpet. 'Oh' he said - ' This is nice, your hotel has carpet on the stairs'. I thought he was being kind about my 'lived in' looking pad. 'Doesn't your hotel have carpets on the stairs?' I asked, fully expecting him to reply in the positive... 'no - only in the rooms' he said.
Maybe the floors are all marble but I now think they might not be ... ?
Oh - my hotel by the way costs 12 pounds 50 a night... (expensive compared to up in the mountains where it is about half the price J ).
All for now - more after the final BIG exam...
Comments
Passed!!!!
Congratulations honey....
Those Monkeys look quiet feisty!!!! xx
Sniff Sniff
Ive just got something in my eye alright!
Brings back a lot of nice feelings for me your blog does Rob.
Nice one for throwing yourself in ....and being open to all the positive vibes that india has to Offer!
Well Done!
Thats great news about your exam Robbo, well done! I am loving reading your blogs, I like your vibes man! And your photos look ACE!
Keep up the good work! xxx