The Long Anticipated Arrival
Philip here,
Here i sit in the bustling metropolis of Kalimpong after four days of mind numbing excitement. i feel that there is so much to say and not much time, so i will get right down to our tale.
It began on the after noon of the 30th of September, at 2:30, when Eliza and I bid a tearful farewell to her parents. then followed security and Finlay we sat down to wait for our flight at 5:45. the long wait was filled by reading and music, but was rather dull regardless. After we boarded we had a six hour flight to Italy, a two hour layover, and then another six hour flight to Delhi. Of this flight there is not much to be said . the first part was exceedingly boring with little in flight entertainment, the second had individual televisions and was slightly more interesting.
We got into Delhi at midnight and arrived at the Arnies half and hour later. The Arnies are and acquaintance of Eliza's grandfather and were most accommodating. Both of them are quite interested in American politics, and despite being quite liberal, we got along quite well. After we arrived we immediately went to bed, i had gotten only about and hour and a half of sleep and was quite exhausted. i went to sleep quite confident that my efforts to not sleep had payed off and that i had cheated the ten hour time difference. this was not, however, the case. the next morning i was up bright and early at 6:00. this would not appear to be a problem, but not even an hour after i awoke i was again exhausted, my body foolishly assuming it was late at night in Glastonbury. A cup of coffee (delicious by the way) eased the pain and we went off to sight see for several hours around the city. We saw several Mosques that were quite old, and also a tomb of a Barber. the tomb was actually a prototype for the taj mahal and had a breathtaking beauty. We might have seen more, the red fort and the lotus temple for example, had that day not also been Gahndi's Birthday. because of this holiday many sights were closed. We returned to the house at 1:30 and Eliza took a long nap, and i fought my exhaustion to talk to Mr. Arnie about the history of India, the war in Iraq, American wealth and various other topics. the man is extremal intelligent, well informed, and a persuasive debater, qualities that i respect enormously. After hours of discussion with lunch thrown in the middle, i Finlay succumbed to jet lag and took a nap. then we had dinner and went to bed (again).
the next day we were up again early, and were off at 8:00 to catch our flight to bagdagra at 10:10. The flight was brief and we arrived without anything to mention. it was in this city that the culture shock hit me. Unlike Delhi with is comparable to any American city, Bagdargra is rural and small hut/shops line the street offering basic commodities as well as furniture, statues and many other crafts. the city is unlike anything that i have ever experienced and truly defies explanation. Part of my inability to describe the city comes from my attention not being entirely focused on the sights. We naturally had to take a taxi to Kalimpong, and the driving in India is truly terrifying. lanes are often ignored as cars swerve onto the other side of the road to pass bikes and carts. the drive up the steep roads that led into the mountains were no less terrifying. but regardless we arrived safely and after an early bed time and ridiculous wake up, we have ventured out into the city. and here we sit.
hope that this has prove insightful to many people out there, and i apologize for not being able to write all i have thought, but our time is closing here at this Internet cafe, and i must be going.
more later
Here i sit in the bustling metropolis of Kalimpong after four days of mind numbing excitement. i feel that there is so much to say and not much time, so i will get right down to our tale.
It began on the after noon of the 30th of September, at 2:30, when Eliza and I bid a tearful farewell to her parents. then followed security and Finlay we sat down to wait for our flight at 5:45. the long wait was filled by reading and music, but was rather dull regardless. After we boarded we had a six hour flight to Italy, a two hour layover, and then another six hour flight to Delhi. Of this flight there is not much to be said . the first part was exceedingly boring with little in flight entertainment, the second had individual televisions and was slightly more interesting.
We got into Delhi at midnight and arrived at the Arnies half and hour later. The Arnies are and acquaintance of Eliza's grandfather and were most accommodating. Both of them are quite interested in American politics, and despite being quite liberal, we got along quite well. After we arrived we immediately went to bed, i had gotten only about and hour and a half of sleep and was quite exhausted. i went to sleep quite confident that my efforts to not sleep had payed off and that i had cheated the ten hour time difference. this was not, however, the case. the next morning i was up bright and early at 6:00. this would not appear to be a problem, but not even an hour after i awoke i was again exhausted, my body foolishly assuming it was late at night in Glastonbury. A cup of coffee (delicious by the way) eased the pain and we went off to sight see for several hours around the city. We saw several Mosques that were quite old, and also a tomb of a Barber. the tomb was actually a prototype for the taj mahal and had a breathtaking beauty. We might have seen more, the red fort and the lotus temple for example, had that day not also been Gahndi's Birthday. because of this holiday many sights were closed. We returned to the house at 1:30 and Eliza took a long nap, and i fought my exhaustion to talk to Mr. Arnie about the history of India, the war in Iraq, American wealth and various other topics. the man is extremal intelligent, well informed, and a persuasive debater, qualities that i respect enormously. After hours of discussion with lunch thrown in the middle, i Finlay succumbed to jet lag and took a nap. then we had dinner and went to bed (again).
the next day we were up again early, and were off at 8:00 to catch our flight to bagdagra at 10:10. The flight was brief and we arrived without anything to mention. it was in this city that the culture shock hit me. Unlike Delhi with is comparable to any American city, Bagdargra is rural and small hut/shops line the street offering basic commodities as well as furniture, statues and many other crafts. the city is unlike anything that i have ever experienced and truly defies explanation. Part of my inability to describe the city comes from my attention not being entirely focused on the sights. We naturally had to take a taxi to Kalimpong, and the driving in India is truly terrifying. lanes are often ignored as cars swerve onto the other side of the road to pass bikes and carts. the drive up the steep roads that led into the mountains were no less terrifying. but regardless we arrived safely and after an early bed time and ridiculous wake up, we have ventured out into the city. and here we sit.
hope that this has prove insightful to many people out there, and i apologize for not being able to write all i have thought, but our time is closing here at this Internet cafe, and i must be going.
more later
posted by Eliza and Phil at 12:02 PM
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