Entry for January 02, 2009

Jan 14, 209

That very afternoon, we took the train to Jaipur. Not without eating of course and we had lunch at Pizza Hut. It sucked. I hated it. I love pizza but this pizza sucked. They didn’t use marinara sauce for some reason. Never eat pizza hut in india. Ever.
Moving on, we got on the train around 5, and we ended up in Jaipur around midnight. My aunt has a cousin who is in the police force there, so, we got to stay in the police’s hotel. Very impressive I must say. Better than the army’s but my uncle told me the only reason that is that nice was because the head of the Rajasthan police force was picky. Thank god.
What we saw in Jaipur the next morning was the Wind Palace. From the outside it just has an amazing façade and then the inside nothing really. Just a bunch of windows. It was built for the Maharani’s because they were not allowed to be viewed for the public. They would go up there, look out the windows, and because of how they window’s were built, they could see outside, but no one could se in. If I were them, I would have pulled a Jasmine, and went out into the market place.
Next we headed so some temple, that was just full of a bunch of massive sundials, and other astrological tools. Dull. I felt like I was getting a science lesson and wanted out but I got a cool notebook from the gift shop. So, there was that plus.
Next was the palace where the queen and king of Rajasthan still live and they have a daughter. Nice place. Beautiful artwork. But nothing exciting. There were two huge silver pots basically that were used to store water and were the biggest silver objects in the world. That was kinda cool. That was that. Oh, and I get a glimpse that the princess who seemed to be in a rush. Oh well.
We also made it so some lame ass fort. I though tit would be cool because Agra fort was cool. No. The most exciting thing about this was that it took 700 years to make the thing and no one ever attacked so it was never used. It also houses the world’s biggest cannon. Story goes, first time it was lit the guy went deaf because he burst his ear drums and then the second time, the guy jumped into the water near by.
The water btw, was part of a water filtration system. This guy, he could have gone on and on and on about this system. It was stupid and a waste. Nothing else exciting. Jaipur flopped. From Jaipur then was a six hour bus ride back to Delhi. In which, I was able to see Gaghni which is pretty good. Then, we had another six hour ride to Dehradun. We got back here at 6 this morning and now tomorrow night, we have a 9 hour train ride to Punjab. Sweet.

Jan 13, 2009

After the Taj Mahal, we made our way over to Agra Fort. That was amazing too. The Mughal’s were pretty damn smart people and so artistic. This was a fort, and the palace where the Mughals lived for some time. Fantastic. There was one thing about it that pissed me off. People had written all over the walls. Stupid things like so and so loved so and so and *blank* was here. Things like that. People have absolutely no respect for historical places and there is no way to monitor a place that huge. I mean they could but would need well over two or three hundred guards I’d say.
There were three things that stuck out about this place. First, was this large patch of green grass, which actually, was a large fish pond filled in by the British. It was as big as I don’t know…50 feet by 30 feet? Maybe more. I don’t do math too good. Haha.
The next thing that really stuck out to me was the room where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Jahangir. I don’t know why he was imprisoned, I believe it was because his son wanted power. I think. Don’t quote me.
The room was beautiful. It wasn’t very big, but it was lavish, not much of a prison cell really, and that is where you can see the Taj Mahal across the river. Very beautiful. He was able to see it from there but the thing was, he was old, going blind, and would really have to squint to see it from his window.
Now, the third thing we saw was closed to the public mostly. Tour guide said, if we gave him 300 Rs then we could go in. I said, I don’t care if it’s a scam I want to see this thing. It was under renovation I believe and that is why most people couldn’t go in. So, my uncle, mom, two European tourists, and me were able to go in. This room, was the queen’s spa room. It was my favourite room and if I could do it I totally would. The whole ceiling was covered with glass that came from Cyprus. The tour guides and this other guy, lit a candle, and you could see the reflection and it was just go beautiful. I was in awe. There was a huge bathtub in the middle of the room that was probably four or five feet deep, and then the little mosaic mirrors overhead…I would never leave the room. Just absolutely stunning.
So those were the big points at Agra fort. If I think of anything else I’ll bring it up later.

Agra
January 13, 2009

We left Monday afternoon at 5 on the train to Delhi. From Delhi, we stayed at the army hotel room thing and then got up 5 am for the train to Agra, which is where the Taj Mahal is. We got to Agra at about 11 AM and I was not impressed. Immediately, I noticed the city is a lot messier than Dehradun but my guess is because it’s mainly a tourist town and they focus on the Taj Mahal than the town itself. Then when we stepped outside the train station, I saw a lost puppy, which upset me of course, and then the driver we hired was a really old man with a broken down Ambassador. That is mainly the reason mu uncle decided to hire him I think.
We got in the car and we were off to see the Taj. It’s about a ten minute drive from the station and I kept looking out the window to see if it would come into view but it never did. We then took a cycle rickshaw to the main gate. I felt terrible that I was doing this but my mom and uncle kept telling me that it’s at least giving him money. That doesn’t mean its right. The government should some how provide better jobs and especially population control if this is how its going to be forever. They just don’t care. Converting the money, we basically spent a dollar for this thing. It was horrible.
We got to the main gate though and there were many more older men with the same business plus horse and carriage, camel and carriage, and I don’t remember what else. Stray dogs all over the place there too. I noticed that everywhere you go the dogs look the same and my guess is because there has been so much interbreeding.
The gate to the Taj was fantastic and I would finally see the dome just a tad bit. I was impressed. It was bigger than I thought. We had to go through security though to actually get into the ground of the Taj Mahal. Security was a pain and I swear, the only place where security mattered. No wires and ipods were allowed. I don’t get why but whatever we finally got in.
It was the most beautiful thing once you hit the other gate. You go through security, then you go through a garden, and then another gate, before you finally see it. It is fantastic and beautiful. Honestly, I though I was going to be disappointed but I was far from. The Taj Mahal is huge and majestic and really is the ultimate materialistic way to show someone you love them. This man built this thing for the woman he loved (only bc she gave birth to his children and the other wives did not im guessing) and brought the finest marble and jewels. It took forever to actually get there but once you reach it, the marble is still mostly smooth, the semi precious stones mostly still intact except for the diamonds which surrounded the chandelier about the resting places, which were stolen years ago. The semi precious stones were amazing. Some of them were solid and dark while others, if you put light up against them, they glow. They say, when there is a full moon, the whole inside glows. They stopped letting people go see it at night though back in 1984.
That’s all there was to it really, I mean it is a tomb. Just all of it was amazing. I was just in awe of how Shah Jahan built this for the woman he loved you know? You don’t see that often throughout history.
Behind the Taj Mahal is a river, which has mostly dried up and whos name I forgot, and across it you can see the Agra Fort, which I also visited next. The thing about Agra fort is that is where Shar Jahan used to live and where he spent the last seven years, I believe, of his life imprisoned by his own son. He was able to see the Taj Mahal from there but hardly.
After I got out, I bought these lame key chains of the Taj Mahal and a few glass earrings for 500 RS which was a ripoff but I decided I don’t care. These people need the money and in the end it really doenst matter to me

Jan 11, 2009'

Mussourie was amazing. We spent most of the day there. It’s a city on top of the mountain which is absolutely beautiful. I had never seen mountains really and I was in awe. I decided I could live on a mountain if I could. The ride to top was slow and you were constantly turning which is why people got sick im assuming. But you could see mountains in the distance everywhere you turned and you were able to see monkey’s and of course the stay dogs and cattle, little shops set up everywhere you turned, literally. It was a slow ride up there but if we went fast we could have gotton there in half an hour.
Once on top we immediately went to an aquarium. Not very exciting. There were maybe ten fish tanks and the fish included; gold fish, koi, angel fish, star fish, piranha, and some cat fish like thing. Very very dull. Typical tourist trap. I got a shit load of shopping for people done there because there were so many shops of all these hand made wooden things that were just amazing. One of my fav things was this cigarette dispenser and it was the only one I had seen. That’s all there was there. There was an antique shop with tons of little trinkets. My favourites were this pocket watch encasing, the old jewellery, the decanters, but I ended up buying a sexton. I don’t think it’s an antique but come on…who has a sexton?
We then took a lift up to the top. That was possibly the best part of the who day. Once on top, there are shops you can dress up in clothes and take pictures but I could see parts of the Himalayas. Wow. I could have sat and started forever at those to mountain peaks. There were so beautiful and granted there were more than three hundred miles away they will looked huge. I’m about to see the Taj Mahal right now and im serious, the Himalayan peaks are still going to be my favourite I think. Unless the Taj is really that romantic looking to me. If I can feel all gushy when I see the Taj ok but we’ll see..but i am single and im a cynic to romance right now. It is not the appropriate time to see the taj.
Anyways, we left late but when we did, the sun was setting and it was just as gorgeous as before, all the mountains. We saw some goats which were cool and sheep with the herder. That was cool but a shit ton of monkeys which always always make me smile. Sonali tried to ruin my excitement by telling e theyre terrible bc they attack but I don’t care. Theyre still awesome.

An Apple A Day…
The doctor will still have something to say

Jan 9, 2009

I went to the doctor on Friday. He was an ass. Ass doesn’t even begin to explain him. He was a Sikh, shocker, and the appointment was set up for my thyroid problem. The day before we had got a blood test done and my thyroid level was .022. That is low. Really low. Considering just a few months ago it was 4 and then quickly dropped to that number explained so much. I couldn’t sleep, I was constantly hyper, had no patience, I was a disaster but I was really awake so I didn’t worry. I was taking my mom’s meds b/c mine ran out and I thought no biggie. Well, I learned my lesson. Next time I was to go crazy for a bit I’ll just take her meds.
So back to the doctor. We went to the doctor, whose office was at his house, and my uncle, cousin, and I all went in for the same reason, out thyroid. Sonali went first. She checked out normal but then the doctor starts and this is how it went.
“How many hours are in a day Sonali?” the doctor asked.
Sonali: 24 hours
Dr: and how many hours do you spend studying?
Sonali: uh…6?
Dr: what do you do with the rest of your day?
Sonali stared at him blankly
Dr: So you’re telling me you do nothing with the rest of your day? You would be exercising. If you study so much….(continues lecture on how Indians study too much) Do you read the news?
Sonali: yes sir
Dr: How many gold medals did China win? Our neighbor who studys hard and have extracurricular activities?
Sonali: (blank stare)
Dr: 56 gold medals. It is a shame you do not know that. And India only won one medal and in shooting. Who was it?
Sonali gave her answer and he let her go. So…awesome, hes an asshole and a psychiatrist. I was next and I sat down, asked me basic questions, and things were going well. Until he began lecturing me on how I must be spiritual for me to succeed and be happy.
Dr: If you do not have spirituality you will not be happy. You must set time aside everyday. See, I have bad for you because you are American and American’s are not spiritual and so are stressed.
Oh…I was pissed but he continued. After the lecture about how I was stressed and how terrible I was b/c I was American and not spiritual he had to weigh me. So I was weighed and then..
Dr: I see. Don’t you think you’ve put on a bit too much weight?
So I gave my typical shot Poonam response when im pissed, “im aware doctor”
And then the exercise lecture and how I’m basically fat and then “American’s do not have the discipline and do not care about what us doctors say. Even American doctor’s look it as a business and in reality, this is a profession of helping people. It’s sad that medicine you are using from America won’t work as well either b/c there are too many rules and you have to pay for so many things.”
He finally was done with me and moved on to my uncle who got spared mostly but oh…for the first time in a few weeks, I was seriously pissed.