Eastern Adventure: January 2011

Staying on the beach can do some pretty crazy thing to your concept of time and what you consider having a "busy" day. We have been staying at a little secluded beach called Kudle Beach for about 8 days now and the time just seems to melt away. A couple hour hike to neighboring beaches seems like a completely full day, and deciding which of the 5 beach restaurants to eat at is a major decision. But now it is time to move on as we head back to Mumbai on the train this evening. We are hoping to WWOOF (work/volunteer) on an organic farm in Jaipur north of Mumbai, but the trains are booked for weeks. So we will head to the train station in the morning to try and buy some Tourist Quota tickets that are reserved for last minute travelers.

I hope everyone out there at home is doing well!

Our adopted puppy plays with a local dog

Enjoying one of the last beach sunsets for a little while

After a hectic few days in the states i've arrived in India.

I flew to San Francisco to get my Visa and was told when I turned in my paper work that I could be denied because my birth certificate only shows my mom's name. Damn. My paper work was submitted anyways and they wished me good luck. They tell you not to book your flight until you have your visa in hand and now i understood as my flight was leaving 36 hours later. After 12 very anxious hours of waiting I received an e-mail saying my visa was ready and I had been approved. Huge exhale! My paper work must have landed on the right desk and I was now fully set for my flight to India.

I had two extremely long flights, 14 hrs to Hong Kong, a one hour layover and then another 7 hours to Mumbai. Turns out Cathay Pacific is a very nice airline and I was treated to delicious food and a nice entertainment system to pass the time, as I watched a lot of episodes of The Office and 30 Rock. Regardless, sitting in a tiny airplane seat for almost 24 hrs is exhausting and I was very excited to land in Mumbai and to see my girlfriend Stephanie.

Walking out of the Mumbai airport you are greeted by a large crowd of Indian people staring at you as they wait for their families. I wandered around looking for Stephanie, but wasn't having any luck finding her. I eventually found her and we loaded up for an exciting cab ride back to the guest house she had found.

Waiting to be let into our room at the Salvation Army Guest House.

Mumbai is a pretty intense and busy city. After a few days to get over jet lag and find a train or bus we were all ready to leave the city.

Lily, a very sweet and kindhearted new friend, has found a little girl

There are countless kids lining the streets, begging for money. It is sad to see them so desperate, but sometimes you can get them to smile

mmmm. lots of delicious fruit

Stephanie on the overnight sleeper bus

All the trains were booked for days so our only option to leave Mumbai was the bus. Our friends had booked train tickets about a week in advance and had a peaceful 11 hr train ride to Gokarna. We on the other hand had a hellish 16 hr bus ride that was supposed to be 11, and then 4 more local buses or around one and a half hours each to finally reach the beach. Looking back it was only 24hrs and not so bad, but in the moment it is hard when your trying to sleep on a tiny bed designed for a 5'8" tall man driving through sketchy windy roads during the middle of the night.